After the election night, it is time to keep the promises that have been so burdened with socio-economic content. From right to left, all parties have ordered measures against social imbalance, poverty, unemployment, precariousness and social cuts; and in favour of decent wages and pensions, a minimum wage and higher social benefits, as well as the reception and integration of migrants. From now on we must demand that the rulers of governments and institutions comply.

Reality tells us that with this crisis the richest have made a profit. Companies listed in the IBEX-35 have earned a profit of EUR 30 billion between January and September, 14% more than in the same period last year. Meanwhile, social inequality has spread throughout the Basque Country and once again unemployment (200,000 people), poverty (140,000 people) and precariousness have a female face. Despite the increase in employment among women, it is less and more temporary. Women work 52% more than men, but they earn 24% less. Pensions are frozen and seven out of ten pensioners (total 665,000) charge less than EUR 1 000 per month. With the current minimum wage (EUR 648.6), no one can live.

Virtually no one has said how it will finance its electoral pledges. We have heard very little about taxes on banks, multinationals, big companies or fortunes, or measures against corruption and tax fraud, or cutting spending on the Monarchy and the military. Do we have to be prepared for new frustrations? Time will tell us.