argia.eus
INPRIMATU
Where are we going or not?
Josu Iraeta 2024ko abuztuaren 21a

With the aim of being objective, emphasising the significant movements that have existed within the government chaired by Mr Pedro Sánchez, and in view of the objectives that the signing of the decree of last decisions has revealed, I would like to make public some ideas that want to be clear. In tune with the society that shows its inner indignation in the streets, in the silence of some and the applause of others.

Here in Euskal Herria, if we talk about the future, what we are hearing in the Madrid Parliament is something else. Although the budgets are "today" the key to the Moncloa, for others, over the years, they cannot overcome the crisis that has led to the cessation of ETA's military activity. They don't understand, they don't want to understand it, that it faces us with a new reality, society and political class. However, we see the same attitude as thirteen years ago, the direct confrontation.

Worse still, there is talk of something else. It is a question of placing the focus of the debate on institutional concern, and not just in Madrid. That is the purpose of the insults and provocations heard in the Parliament of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

I believe they cannot swallow the anguish of fear. We do, but nobody else has a truce, because the memory chooses — as it may be — what it wants to hide or forget.

The maps created by the impulse of the "democratic systems" derived from the colonialisms are not untouchable either in the Spanish state or in Europe. Two different and antagonistic communities, each seeking their political rights as legitimate, conflict — not always — has been resolved many times with division. That is why, if at the beginning of the twentieth century Europe was made up of 24 independent states, today it is 47. It must be borne in mind that, in the last two decades, sixteen new states have been formed.

Because not only does participation in the political field solve the democratic problem, but it also ensures the way for all the projects to be carried out.

As we see time and time again, can the Spanish democracy, so untrained, ever have as much strength as the British expressed in Ireland?

I know, "now" comes the restitution, there is always compensation, and in the Spanish State it is a matter of renouncing the inviolability of the Constitution. We have to put forward proposals to transform the Constitution, because otherwise, as we have seen so far, any solution, for the future, will only lead to the failure of one party to defeat the other.

History itself shows us the fundamental key that has emerged from Madrid every time a negotiating process has been approached in order to bring about a solution to what has been called the "Basque conflict". In other words, the inconclusive democratization of the Spanish State has been based on the firm defense of an error, on the defense of the "supposed" constitutional intangibility.

The future of a political community cannot coldly be based on taboos of supposed convenience. Not even taking advantage of the temporary weakness of the Moncloa. Future developments would be truly fragile if they were no more than the will of a few responsible. It is of no use if political will is not based on deep and lasting developments. Among other things, the evolution and recognition of the law.

I don't care either for the CAV or in Navarra. I don't care about the PNV or Geroa Bai. Not only at this time, but I have read and heard many times from the leaders of several generations of Basque organizations that their aim is the freedom of Euskal Herria, also Urkullu himself.

If, at first, I cannot question my position on this objective, I confess that I find it rather unlikely that I will be committed to that objective by joining Spanish political forces such as the PSOE.

Some people may say that we are not at the right time to underline these kinds of situations. I know them, I know who they are, who doesn't know them? For those who want to liberate Euskal Herria, freedom has one meaning.

As before with the praxis of being free, I think we also have to be abertzale. To be Abertzale, because it is not someone who is listed in a Statute and who guarantees the interests that the convention covers. To be abertzale is something else.

I understand, the content of this reflection generates these kinds of questions. As we see time and time again, can the Spanish democracy, so untrained, ever have as much strength as the British expressed in Ireland? Does it satisfy those deriving from the old regime? Put more clearly, will it keep everything that the new transition that the situation requires?

Despite the fact that a great deal of time has passed, I remember the movements of Mr Carod Rovira "out of the dash", who, through ERC, took the debate of the Statut to the streets and gave the Catalans the opportunity to express their strength in this regard.

Things have changed a lot, the Abertzales are "trampling" and what then triggered "mutual aid mechanisms," that is, CIU, where is it? That's all history, and it's always been that way.

When the work that is being read is going to end, I think it can be the right time, with a long look at all the traffic that has been done so far, to recognise that a nation should get its freedom without spilling out a drop of blood.

Here, in the territory of the Basque Country, neither have we come here, and we all know each other. History shows – for those who want to learn – that no one has chosen the right path “always”, and it is true, but we are learning to correct mistakes.

Even by making use of peaceful means, with all its moral forces and claiming internationally recognized rights. To all this, adding to the majority will of Basque society, we will open the doors.

And now, what response does the incumbent have?

Josu Iraeta, writer