BOISE -- The President of the Basque Country, Patzi Lopez, visited Boise for the very first time to enjoy Jaialdi. KTVB sat down with President Lopez to discuss his impressions of Boise and about American-Basque relations.
Like others visiting from the Basque Country, Lopez first was excited to see how big Jaialdi is in Boise and how large the Basque community is in Idaho.
"Boise's embraced the Basque people and has helped them and let them prosper," Lopez said. "They always have told me about Jaialdi, but when you come here, it really does surprise you."
Political unrest in the Basque government
Lopez was elected last year as the leader of the autonomous Basque government. Lopez is a socialist, and with his election ended three decades of a nationalist government.
With political unrest going back decades, Lopez acknowledges the Basque Country could be negetively perceived, but says to truly understand, someone would have to follow day-to-day changes and progress.
"The reality of Basques, you have to understand and follow day to day because it is changing just as our daily lives," Lopez said. "Surely a lot of the news that comes here may have to do with some of the problems and the violence, but the Basque country is a prosperous country, a modern country, and technologically advanced."
When Lopez was elected in 2009, he vowed to confront ETA, what the U.S. and Europe consider a terrorist group. ETA is a group blamed for killing hundreds of people in its fight to have an independant Basque state, seperate from Spain and France.
"Everyone is united... here that is demonstrated."
When talking about any political controversy, Lopez points to his lapel pin as just one symbol of how he feels Basques and Americans are coming together.
"Clearly, yes, everyone is united, and no one is asking what they think individually. There are thousands of ways to feel Basque, and here that is demonstrated," Lopez said.
With his visit to Idaho, Lopez said the unity he sees between the two cultures in Boise should stand as an example to everyone.
"I think the Basque-American experience here is something that we can all learn and try to follow," Lopez said.
Lopez, his wife, and other Basque government officials will be in Boise for Jaialdi through Saturday.
