Ibarretxe Plan

The Ibarretxe Plan was a proposal in the early 2000s by Juan José Ibarretxe, then President of Navarre, aimed at giving the Basque Country more self-government. It sought to create a new political framework where the Basque region could become a free association with Spain, similar to a sovereign nation, while still remaining part of Spain. The plan included establishing a Basque confederal status with more control over its own affairs. However, it was rejected by the Spanish government and Parliament, as it challenged the country’s constitutional unity. The plan sparked debate over regional autonomy and national sovereignty in Spain.