PNV withdraws support to Spanish govt. over Bildu election ban

The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) has withdrawn support for the Spanish government, which lacks a majority in parliament, after fellow regional party Bildu was
banned from elections because of alleged ties to ETA.

The Basque nationalist party PNV has been one of the minority Socialists'' main allies in national parliament votes over the past year.

But on Sunday the Supreme Court ruled that newly formed Bildu, which groups leftist Basque independence parties, could not run in May 22 municipal elections because of some candidates'' presumed ties to the political wing of armed separatist group ETA.

Party leader Inigo Urkullu said PNV was suspending "all collaboration and support" with the Spanish government for its stance on Bildu, which he said led to the court ruling.

The government passed its 2011 budget thanks to PNV backing, removing a huge political hurdle for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who could have faced a call for early elections if support had not been found.

The Socialist administration, seven seats shy of a majority in the lower house of parliament, agreed to give the PNV more control over some local issues in return for its support over the budget.