The peace test

摘要

Local elections seldom matter. But as Spaniards vote for councils and mayors on May 27th, more than local politics is at stake. In the Basque country, peace is in the balance. Efforts by the Socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to strike a peace deal with ETA terrorists face a big test. Some observers expect ETA to resume its attacks after the vote. It all contrasts starkly with an end to political violence in another troubled region: Northern Ireland.