Urko Aiartza Azurtza ( Donostia 1970)  was a founder of the Basque Speakers’ Lawyers’ Union (AES), a member of the Basque Democratic Lawyer Association, Eskubideak of the European Democrat Lawyers (AED-EDL) and European Lawyers For Democracy and Human Rights in Europe (ELDH), and has been working as lawyer for  human rights groups such as the Observatory of Linguistic Rights, the Observatory of Human Rights in the Basque Country, as well as various Basque language support groups. He was also member of the team of lawyers who acted to the European Court on Human Rights on the banning of Herri Batasuna/Batasuna, the EAE-ANV parties and other candidate lists among other cases. Elected Senator in 2011 on behalf of the basque pro sovereignity  left coallition AMAIUR. He holds a Master in Law from the University of the Basque Country EHU-UPV and a postgraduate degree in Language Planning. Author of the work The Long Walk to a Democratic Scenario with prof. Julen Zabalo of the Berghof  Series on Transitions.

Events participated in:

From the Basque to the Big Country: Where Now for Democratic Politics in Europe?: Join Allan Little as he talks to Urko Aiartza Azurtza, Merryn Somerset Webb, and Gerry Hassan about how to deal with populism and demands for constitutional change in Europe. Tim Phillips gives a US perspective. (2022)

Scotland’s Role in the World: Participate in an important debate about Scotland’s future and role in the world with a number of Scotland’s political luminaries, including a slew of politicians from across the political divide. Mark Muller Stuart QC, Jeremy Purvis , and Spanish senator, Urko Aiartza Azurtza from the Basque country join the debate. Sir Kieran Prendergast poses the questions. (2013)