Arnaldo Otegi, center, a prominent Basque separatist politician, waves to his supporters as he receives a tribute in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Saturday, March 5, 2016. Otegi was released Tuesday, March 1 from the Spanish prison of Logrono after serving more than six years on terrorism charges for trying to resurrect the banned political wing of the armed group ETA. ETA announced a permanent cease-fire in 2011 but has not disarmed. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press
MADRID (AP) - Thousands of Basque separatist sympathizers have held a rally in northern Spain celebrating the release from jail of a prominent regional leader four days after he completed a more than six-year sentence for trying to resurrect the banned political wing of armed group ETA.
Arnaldo Otegi, who was considered the political leader of the pro-Basque independence movement before his 2009 imprisonment, was greeted by more than 8,000 supporters at the Anoeta cycling arena in the city of San Sebastian.
He entered the venue flanked by traditional regional folkloric dancers and is expected to address his followers there late Saturday.
There has been speculation that Otegi might present himself as a candidate for regional president in local elections later this year, although his sentence bans him from holding office until 2021.
EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN Followers of Arnaldo Otegi, a prominent Basque separatist politician, waves Basque, Navarre and Catalonian flags as he receives a tribute during political meeting, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Saturday, March 5, 2016. Otegi was released Tuesday, March 1 from the Spanish prison of Logrono after serving more than six years on terrorism charges for trying to resurrect the banned political wing of the armed group ETA. ETA announced a permanent cease-fire in 2011 but has not disarmed. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press
Arnaldo Otegi, center, a prominent Basque separatist politician, looks back to photographers as he receives a tribute during a political meeting, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Saturday, March 5, 2016. Otegi was released on Tuesday March 1 from a Spanish prison in Logrono, after serving more than six years on terrorism charges for trying to resurrect the banned political wing of the armed group ETA. ETA announced a permanent cease-fire in 2011 but has not disarmed. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press
Arnaldo Otegi, center, a prominent Basque separatist politician, waves to his supporters as he receives a tribute in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Saturday, March 5, 2016. Otegi was released Tuesday, March 1 from the Spanish prison of Logrono after serving more than six years on terrorism charges for trying to resurrect the banned political wing of the armed group ETA. ETA announced a permanent cease-fire in 2011 but has not disarmed. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press