Iñigo Urkullu

Íñigo Urkullu Renteria (born 18 September 1961) is a Spanish politician, and the current Lehendakari (President) of the Basque Government since 2012.[1][2]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Urkullu and the second or maternal family name is Renteria.

The Most Excellent Íñigo Urkullu
Urkullu in December 2014
7th Lehendakari
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 December 2012
Monarch	Juan Carlos I (2012–2014) Felipe VI (2014–present)
Preceded by	Patxi López
Chairman of the Basque Nationalist Party
In office 18 January 2008 – 12 January 2013
Preceded by	Josu Jon Imaz
Succeeded by	Andoni Ortuzar
Member of the Basque Parliament
In office 1984–1987
In office 1994–2005
Personal details
Born	(1961-09-18) 18 September 1961 Alonsotegi, Biscay, Basque Provinces, Spanish State
Nationality	Spanish
Political party	Basque Nationalist Party
Alma mater	University of Deusto
Profession	Teacher

Life

Urkullu graduated in Teaching, specialized in Basque language, from the University of Deusto. He was the Basque Nationalist Party chairman[3] from 2008 to 2013 when he was succeeded by Andoni Ortuzar, since the party's rules do not allow a Lehendakari to be the party's chairman at the same time.

He was the Biscay leader of the party from 2004 to 2008 and has been a member since 1996. He was the director of the Biscay foral Department for Youth and Social Services from 1987 to 1994 and served in the Basque Parliament from 1984 to 1987 and from 1994 to 2005 (during the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th sittings of the parliament).

Amid the 2017-18 Spanish constitutional crisis, Urkullu tried to mediate between the Spanish and Catalan governments to avoid the declaration of independence and the application of Article 155, but these attempts failed. He declared as a witness in the Trial of Catalonia independence leaders on 28 February 2019.[4][5]

References

1. "Íñigo Urkullu ha sido reelegido presidente del PNV". RTVE.es (in Spanish). January 15, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
2. "Íñigo Urkullu: "En ausencia de violencia hay que dejar paso a la política"". elimparcial.es (in Spanish). June 26, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
3. Cambio 16. Información y Revistas, S.A. January 1, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
4. Pozas, Alberto (February 27, 2019). "De Mariano Rajoy a Iñigo Urkullu: qué tiene que contar cada testigo". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
5. "Juicio al 'procés': Urkullu reconoce su papel mediador entre Rajoy y Puigdemont". El Plural (in Spanish). February 28, 2019. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.

Political offices
Preceded by Patxi López	Lehendakari of the Basque Country 2012–present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Josu Jon Imaz	President of the Basque Nationalist Party 2008–2012	Succeeded by Andoni Ortuzar