Recent news reports form Spain have stated that Urrutikoetxea is seeking to regain his leadership in the ETA in the upcoming weeks. He has stated that he is willing to talk with Spanish authorities and has been in communication with Arnaldo Otegi, a former leader of Batasuna [BBC backgrounder; JURIST news archive], the political wing of ETA. In March, the Spanish National Court [official website, in Spanish] sentenced [JURIST report] Otegi to two years in prison for promoting terrorism. The court held that comments made by Ortegi in a 2005 speech praised the terrorist acts committed by other ETA members. Otegi compared his imprisoned associates to South African leader Nelson Mandela [ANC backgrounder]. The court criticized the comparison because, unlike the ETA, which is blamed for more than 800 deaths, Mandela was nonviolent. The court also disqualified Otegi from holding public office for 16 years. Otegi faces additional charges that could result in up to 30 years in prison.