Abertzale
Abertzale is a Basque term usually referring to people or political groups who are associated with Basque nationalism.
Although the term is a synonym of "patriot", its common use in Basque mainly refers to Basque nationalism, whereas in the Spanish language abertzale means "Basque nationalist".
The use of the term by members and sympathizers of Herri Batasuna, and the fact that the followers of the Basque Nationalist Party call themselves jeltzales more than abertzales, has brought about a situation where in the Spanish language the word is at times associated with that particular leftist current of Basque nationalism.
Several organizations past and present have used this word in their official Basque-language names:
- Abertzaleen Batasuna : A political party in the French Basque Country.
- Emakume Abertzale Batza, onetime women's section of the PNV, made illegal by the rebel junta in Burgos during the Spanish Civil War.
- Euskal Abertzaletasunaren Museoa.
- The name Eusko Abertzaleak is used by various parliamentary and town council groups of the Basque Nationalist Party. In fact, Eusko Alkartasuna was meant to be founded under the name Eusko Abertzaleak, but the Basque Nationalist Party registered this name first.
- Eusko Abertzale Ekintza, a Basque nationalist and leftist party.
- Ezker Mugimendu Abertzalea : A political party in the French Basque Country.
- Gazte Abertzaleak : the youth group of the Spanish Basque political party Eusko Alkartasuna, left of the PNV but not aligned with ETA or Batasuna.
- Koordinadora Abertzale Sozialista.
- The names Ezker Abertzalea, Nafarroako Sozialista Abertzaleak and Araba, Bizkai eta Gipuzkoako Sozialista Abertzaleak have been used by various parliamentary groups of Herri Batasuna and Euskal Herritarrok in different parliaments.