- The organizers of the popular festivities of the four capitals of Hego Euskal Herria have published a joint statement. They denounce that the decisions taken in relation to COVID-19 have been taken without dialogue with them and call on the parties' commissions throughout the Basque Country to organize themselves in favor of this holiday model.
The groups that organize the popular festivities of Pamplona, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián have published a joint note to assess the decisions taken in relation to the coronavirus crisis. According to the text, “in this harsh situation some values have emerged reinforced: mutual care, the citizen network and the passion to defend health and lives”. However, not everything has been as positive as a result of the following movements: “Others have dedicated themselves to making their own decisions and making their decisions without sharing them at all,” they pointed out in reference to the decisions of the municipalities of the four capitals on the suspension of the festivities.
The groups in favor of popular festivities do not question the decision itself, “but the way in which the decision has been made. In short, these decisions have been taken in a non-shared and unilateral manner. Thus, the decision loses value for us.”
They denounce that they have been “marginalized”, that they have been informed shortly before the public announcement of the suspension of the festivities, or that they have known it directly through the press, “although we have been in constant contact with the municipalities”. In view of this way of working, it is believed that the popular festivities have left a background.
In addition to criticizing this way of operating the institutions, they have recalled the importance of popular festivities: “In these harsh times we citizens need more than ever the joy, the color, the collectivity that the parties give us. And we want to continue to do so in a participatory way, from the Basque Country, from feminism and sustainability, from the participation of all”. Therefore, they have encouraged all the party commissions of the Basque Country to organize themselves in favor of the popular festivities, “always with all the health and safety measures”. They have explained that in Pamplona/Iruña there will be some "special but joyful" Sanfermines; in Vitoria Celedón will appear on the balcony or through the window; in Donostia the pirates will be approached; and in Bilbao the smile of Marijaia will be repeated.