Basque regional premier Patxi López said Sunday that the 10-year sentence handed down to former Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi for supposed membership of ETA is "incompatible with the times we are living in."

In an exclusive EL PAÍS interview, López said that while he respects the High Court's decision, many in the Basque Country simply don't understand it.

"It is evident that the Bateragune [case] sentence wasn't understood by many in the Basque Country because it is a sentence incompatible with the times we are living in and it has caused not only surprise but in some sectors, frustration and indignation," López said. "The important thing was the answer given by Otegi who said that these types of things won't affect the aim for a political solution."

Otegi, who was already serving another sentence, is appealing the 10-year term he was given for trying to rebuild the outlawed Batasuna party and for being a member of ETA.