José Antonio Agirre

José Antonio Agirre was a Basque politician and lawyer, best known for serving as the first Lehendakari (president) of the Basque Government in exile during and after the Spanish Civil War. Born in 1904, he advocated for Basque autonomy and culture. His leadership was marked by efforts to preserve Basque identity during Franco's dictatorship, which suppressed regional languages and identities. Agirre organized the Basque government in exile from 1937 until his death in 1960, promoting Basque rights internationally. He remains a symbol of Basque nationalism and resilience in the face of oppression.