Deputy General of Álava

The deputy general of Álava (Basque: Arabako ahaldun nagusia, Spanish: Diputado General de Álava) is the head of the Foral Deputation of Álava, a province of the Basque Country, Spain. The current incumbent is Ramiro González of the Basque Nationalist Party, who has held the office since 2015.

The post has existed since the late fifteenth century. The first three Deputies General were selected by the monarch, but all their successors were elected by representatives of the province. The importance of the post increased gradually during the eighteenth century, while that of the Juntas Generales weakened. With the end of Basque home rule in Spain in 1876, the Foral Deputation of Álava was denoted to the status of a provincial deputation, and the name of the post changed to president of the Deputation of Álava (Basque: Arabako Aldundiaren presidentea, Spanish: Presidente de la Diputación de Álava). After the approval of the Constitution of 1978, the Foral Deputation was restored and the post of deputy general were restored. The first officeholder of the restored post was Emilio Guevara, elected in 1979.