Spanish members of parliament interrupted their summer holidays yesterday to meet in emergency session to debate and vote, by a large majority, to ban Batasuna, the party linked to the Basque terrorist movement ETA.
The Popular Party (PP) and opposition Socialists agreed on the wording of the proposal before yesterday's session. They accused Batasuna of "systematically ignoring fundamental rights and liberties, promoting, justifying and excusing attacks on life and physical integrity".
They claimed Batasuna had taken advantage of the rights and benefits which democracy concedes to political parties, both in financing and access to the media and, through their co-operation with ETA, had created a climate of fear and intimidation.
Addressing a public meeting in Almeria before flying to Madrid, the Socialist leader, Mr José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said: "A move to support the banning of Batasuna is a move to defend democracy. If Batasuna wants to remain legal they must show respect for the people and condemn crimes of terrorism."
Although the parliamentary decision was conclusive, it was just the first step in a process which is expected to last until the beginning of next year. The next step will come on Friday when the cabinet will take note of yesterday's vote and will call on the State Prosecutor to request the Supreme Court to outlaw Batasuna.
Supporters of the banning are confident that Batasuna will be illegal in time to prevent them from standing in next year's municipal elections because it is in local politics that Batasuna holds the most power.
There are currently 62 Batasuna mayors in towns across the Basque Country and Navarra, and close to 900 councillors.
However, another ban against Batasuna was enforced in a parallel measure by Mr Baltasar Garzón, the high-profile examining judge who yesterday announced a three-year closure of all Batasuna's offices and meeting places. He ordered that their bank accounts and websites should be closed down and that water, light and telephone supplies cut off from all their premises.
Mr Garzón claims that there were sufficient instruments in place to ban Batasuna without the new legislation under which parliament voted yesterday.