Monforte was born in Mallabia, in the province of Biscay. He studied law at the University of Valencia and from 1972 to 1977 worked as a lawyer for the Mondragon Corporation.[1] A member of the Basque Nationalist Party, Monforte was elected to the Congress of Deputies in 1977, 1979 and 1982.[2] In the run-up to the 1986 NATO membership referendum he stated that the origins of the organization were closely linked to democracy, and advocated for a common European defense policy.[3]
^Pérez Ares, Mª Isabel (2002). "El Consejo general vasco y el estatuto de autonomía: redacción y autonomía". Actas del III Simposio de Historia Actual (in Spanish). Vol. 2. pp. 613–638. ISBN84-95747-23-5.