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Basque nationalists launch political party in north Spain after court ruling

Associated Press
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Hasier Arraiz, front, president of the new pro independence Basque party, Sortu, gestures during the inaugural congress, in Pamplona northern Spain on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. Sortu was launched formally Saturday, eight months after the Constitutional Court said Sortu could come into existence because it was different to the outlawed Batasuna.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) (The Associated Press)

Members of the new pro independence Basque party, Sortu, sing the International song during the inaugural congress, in Pamplona northern Spain on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. Sortu was launched formally Saturday, eight months after the Constitutional Court said Sortu could come into existence because it was different to the outlawed Batasuna. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) (The Associated Press)

The portrait of Arnaldo Otegi, imprisoned since 2009 for his collaboration with the Basque armed group ETA and honorary leader of the new pro independence Basque party Sortu, is seen on a giant screen during the inaugural congress of Sortu, in Pamplona northern Spain on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. Sortu was launched formally Saturday, eight months after the Constitutional Court said Sortu could come into existence because it was different to the outlawed Batasuna.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) (The Associated Press)

Basque politicians have launched a nationalist party after Spain's highest court ruled it could be established because it was not directly linked to the militant separatist group ETA.

Sortu was launched formally Saturday, eight months after the Constitutional Court said it could come into existence because it was different from ETA's banned political wing, Batasuna.

At its inaugural congress, Hasier Arraiz was confirmed as president and a letter from imprisoned general secretary Arnaldo Otegi was read out.

Otegi is serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted in 2009 of trying to resurrect Batasuna.

Otegi's letter said the Spanish and French states "continue to deny the status as a nation of the Basque country" and continue to "deny its right to self-determination."