Summer has taken its steps and the festive atmosphere has weakened. We are now faced with the needs that we have left behind and, once again, the right reasons must be given to Basque society.
The first contacts seem to be trying to pave the way for the political environment, but perhaps – there are always exceptions – Mr Ortuzar should be thanked for the effort he is making to be a protagonist.
Mr Ortuzar, who is a clear example of diplomatic versatility, and – apparently – when your solo singing days are about to end, I think you have won the last and elegant greeting.
Ten years have passed since then, a splendid time, a fresh, elegant wind. As Christmas was nearby, the capital offered nicely decorated streets, it was the last month of 2013.
In the Parliament of Vitoria-Gasteiz, coffee and a couple of newspapers on the table, quiet, waiting for my friend. A murmur of voices disturbed my peace of mind. The group of journalists there rushed to abandon the silence of the cafeteria.
I immediately knew why they had moved. They were in the hallways, listening to an ever-new man, with a sleek oratory, I mean the president of the PNV, Andoni Ortuzar.
The truth is, I don't know what I could say until I got there, but I heard this very clearly. “The time has come to reform the Gernika Statute and update Euskadi’s lace in Spain. The popular consultation could take place in the 2015-2016 course. The important thing is to do it.”
Who decided to speed up the work of the TAV and to build large infrastructures for renewable energies? Are wild initiatives that destroy forests a good tool to deal with the climate emergency?
We all know that the newspaper library does not forgive, which is why, in rereading today, it can be said that it is not frivolous words, said by the president of the PNV, Andoni Ortuzar, in the Gasteiz Parliament in 2013.
And they are not insignificant, especially given what Andoni Ortuzar himself said a few days ago: “The PNV believes it is time to move from words to deeds to defining a new status of self-government for the Basque Country.”
When I heard this, if I had to underline something, I would highlight the lack of coherence of the PNV.
However, these kinds of attitudes do not come anyway, they have their powerful, solid reasons. Who would not meddle in the future with the sufferings that the PNV has suffered in recent years?
The PNV is the only political party that has won 55 times in all kinds of elections, and it was ignited by alarms falling below 200,000 votes, for the first time in history. Is there no reason for cowardice, for cowardice, for fear?
The bad news is always true, but it is also undeniable that a serene look at the current political situation in the Basque Country and Navarre brings novelties. Among other aspects, the “uniformity” among the groups that make up the Legislative Chambers stands out.
Again, highlighting the distance between “praxis” and the verb. Without ruling out the fact that, in Parliament’s day-to-day life, the dialectical attitude, with the exception of the leaders of UPN, has become visibly civilised.
In any case, and although what is perceived is not friendly, we are where we are and want or not, we are all part. Aware of this reality, as in the passage of time, we have learned above all knowledge, when it is replaced by faith, the calm but committed effort, which must always help the resources of the argument. This gives way to an exciting “sentimental”, which always leads to a delicate and dangerous situation.
I know, like many others, that we have put our legs very far away from the objective, but the mistake made, also to us, has made us change the way. Today, it is inevitable that a pro-independence project will require more “sedimentation” to metabolize the majority of society.
All this is true, because it is not a lie that the current situation of dependence on the power of the State and its institutions necessarily implies that Madrid regulates the true scope and content of autonomy. Therefore, today famous transfers are used as “concessions” in exchange for the PSOE government to remain in La Moncloa.
This is the case when the State offers a certain degree of autonomy to calm down what the nationalist organization demands, or when “some other group” of this group makes a smaller territorial request.
Therefore, when the objectives of both levels do not coincide, a link must be built between them in order to achieve the necessary support. That is not the case today, but it will be so, because Mr Urkullu, in his day, has already told me otherwise.
With Urkullu you cannot deny that he has been lehendakari for twelve years, until a few days ago. So it's not an alien, you don't know where. With the collaboration of Ortuzar, he has directed the PNV for decades.
To the aforementioned Biscayan couple, my questions: Who are the ones who built the Zubieta incinerator? Who stood up for the barbarity that could not be saved at Zaldibar? Who rejected the progress made in the sustainable management of waste applauded by Europe?
Who decided to speed up the work of the TAV and to build large infrastructures for renewable energies? Are wild initiatives that destroy forests a good tool to deal with the climate emergency?
We have heard from the members of the Urkullu Government many times: “There is no other right path.” But when that proudly demented the routines, both the cows and again have been preserved.
Without further delay, the collaboration you have offered from Lakua so far is well known: “If you disagree with us, you should know that without you we will go ahead.”
Imanol Pradales, lehendakari, the Basque society is waiting for its praxis.
Josu Iraeta, writer