Basque progressive party makes

Independence movements can take heart from push for change

ON Sunday, April 21, elections were held for the Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community. The proindependence, left-wing party Euskal Herria Bildu (EH Bildu) obtained 27 seats, tying in seats with the leading force in a Parliament that returned 54 pro-sovereignty seats out of 75 – the highest number ever.

Our outstanding result (27 seats, 32% of the vote, 341,000 votes, 91,000 up from 2020) hasn’t been a surprise, it follows the positive trend EH Bildu has marked in every election since 2016 and proves our hypothesis right – the change of cycle in Euskal Herria is a reality.

We have spoken about a change of cycle for the past several months to explain the change being operated in Basque society and the ways Basques cast their votes. Basque society is more feminist, more progressive, more egalitarian and pro-sovereignty and it resembles EH Bildu’s ideological stance more and more. At the same time, Basque society has rejected showtimestyle politics, which are common in the Spanish state, as well as the disqualification of political adversaries and noise-filled debates, aiming to elevate the level of political debate at all times.

EH Bildu has campaigned by explaining that modern problems need modern responses. We believe that it is impossible to respond to the 21st-century challenges from within 19th-century buildings with 20th-century mindsets, and that therefore new ideas, new solutions and new leaderships are a must.

But it would be unfair on our side to arrogate ourselves with the truth and the only valid policies and solutions. The challenges ahead are so big that in the Basque context, it would be impossible for any single party to deal with them on its own.

Taking this into account, EH Bildu has defended the need for new collaborative politics in our country, a new way of addressing public issues that would abandon partisan-interestcentred politics and embrace a new scheme of inter-partisan co-operation in issues of national interest – such as education, energy transition or the housing crisis – while also allowing for competition in electoral terms.

The election mandate for such an approach is clear – popular vote has returned a Parliament that is overwhelmingly sovereigntist (54 seats out of 75 for self-determination) and progressive (EH Bildu 27, PSE 12 and Sumar 1, add 40 seats), confirming the willingness of Basque society to take a step forward for greater levels of self-governance and to deliver progressive public policies in sectors like health, education and housing. EH Bildu have publicly stated our willingness to respect the people’s mandate.

Unfortunately, PNV and PSE have already started to discuss the creation of what we call a “Nor & Neither” government, neither sovereigntist nor progressive. Although election results evidence the wear and tear of their model of politics and governance, both parties insist on holding government positions.

And all this happens at a time during which every party in the Basque Parliament – except from the conservative PP and far-right Vox – support the central government in Madrid – a government that has publicly stated it is willing to discuss the territorial model of the Spanish state. Such a debate would have deep implications for both the Basque Country and Catalunya.

Probably, such a debate – together with the ongoing discussions in Corsica and New Caledonia under French rule – would also have deep implications for other nations seeking their own sovereignty.

When one of us takes a step forward, it inspires the rest and shows to our respective societies that change in constitutional status is possible and desirable, and moreover, it shows that we are not alone.

At the end of the day, Basques and Catalans don’t want to be more nor less than any other people; we are mature societies that want to have all the possible tools to respond to the challenges ahead. And whenever we face a challenge – be it in our personal or political lives – it is always easier to confront it with friends and allies.

We strongly believe in the need for likeminded parties and societies to work together. We may not always agree on everything but collaboration is a must if we are to ensure the wellbeing of everyone living in our respective countries.

That is EH Bildu’s vow, to keep working for our people to move forward in these complicated times. Our election results last Sunday represent a piece of good news on that road.