Data on the demographic crisis that would also affect Euskal Herria were published last week. The decline in student enrolment in Hego Euskal Herria and the low birth rate have led to the conclusion that public pensions are at risk and, therefore, the welfare state itself. But this welfare has not been achieved thanks to the banks, but to the tears and sweat of millions of people in the Basque Country and the Spanish and French states.

Public pensions are not at risk because of low birth rates, particularly because young people are unemployed or because the employment generated is very precarious. There is sufficient wealth to maintain the public pension system and the current welfare state. What is lacking is the political will to make a fairer distribution of that wealth and to put more taxes on banks, multinationals and big business.

There is no desire to preside over social investment, but billions of euros are wasted on weapons or on Pharaonic works. The so-called demographic crisis is no more than an excuse for putting an end to public pensions in favour of private pensions, for banks, pension funds and insurance to earn more.