Joseba Leizaola
| Joseba Leizaola | |
|---|---|
| 3rd President of the Basque Parliament | |
|
In office December 18, 1990 – September 1, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Jesús Eguiguren Imaz |
| Succeeded by | Juan María Atutxa |
| Member of the Basque Parliament | |
|
In office March 31, 1980 – September 1, 1998 | |
| Second Vice President of the Basque Parliament | |
|
In office January 8, 1987 – December 18, 1990 | |
| Preceded by | José Antonio Maturana |
| Succeeded by | Francisco José Ormazabal |
| First Secretary of the Basque Parliament | |
|
In office November 30, 1983 – January 8, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | José Antonio Zaldua Arbiza |
| Succeeded by | Koro Garmendia Galbete |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 3, 1931 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain |
| Died |
January 6, 2017 (aged 86) San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain |
| Political party | PNV-EAJ |
Joseba Andoni Leizaola Azpiazu (January 3, 1931 – January 6, 2017) was a Spanish politician, Basque nationalist and member of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV-EAJ). He was a member of the Basque Parliament for eighteen years from 1980 to 1998, including a tenure as the third President of the Basque Parliament from December 18, 1990, to September 1, 1998.[1]
Leizaola was born in San Sebastián.[1] He moved Venezuela in the early 1940s to escape the Francoist Spain government of Francisco Franco.[1] His father, Ricardo Leizaola, was the founder of the El Día newspaper and the weekly newspaper. His uncle, Jesús María Leizaola was Lehendakari, or President, of the Basque-government-in-exile, from 1960 to 1978.[1] Joseba Leizaola and his family lived in Venezuelan until the transition to democracy. He became active in the Basque exile and Basque-Venezuelan communities.[1] Leizaola served as the President of PNV of Caracas and a member of the Basque Center of Caracas.[1]
Leizaola became the leader of the Basque Nationalist Party's (PNV) Gipuzkoa provincial chapter during the Spanish transition to democracy.[1] He then served as a member of both the Gipuzkoa Buru Batzar and the Euskadi Buru Batzar from 1968 to 1977.[1]
In 1980, Leizaola was elected to the newly created Basque Parliament, where he served as an MP from 1980 to 1998.[1] He served as the third President of the Basque Parliament from December 18, 1990, until September 1, 1998, when he was succeeded by Juan María Atutxa.[1]
Joseba Leizaola died following a long illness on January 6, 2017, at the 86.[1]