In the 1990s he started his political career, quickly gaining prominence within Basque separatism and becoming the leader of Batasuna, however the party was declared illegal in 2003 due to its relationship with ETA.
In the 1990s he started his political career and he quickly gaining prominence within Basque separatism and becoming the leader of Batasuna, after the whole National Commitee of Herri Batasuna was arrested. However the party and the next created ones were declared illegal in 2003 due to its relationship with ETA.