Aiaraldea Komunikazio has asked Josune Irabien, Director of Promotion of the Basque Government of the Basque Country, to mediate on the conflict that arose after the unilateral withdrawal of the subsidy by the City of Amurrio. On June 21, they concentrated in front of the City Hall to ask the only media in Basque of the region to re-establish the subsidy, warning that without subsidy they are in financial deficit.
Since the City had until 21 September to take the necessary steps to resolve the case, Aiaraldea has processed an official request in the Department of Culture and Linguistic Policy of the Basque Government for the new director of Promotion of the Basque Country to intervene in the resolution. They have opened the deadline until 31 October and have confirmed that, "if they have will", they can reach an agreement "as soon as possible".
Aiaraldea has assured that Josune Irabien Marigorta “is the right person” for mediation: one of his functions is “to promote initiatives to strengthen and promote the media in Basque” and has also been Mayor of Amurrio for nine years. In fact, in 2012, the “collaboration agreement of great consensus for the promotion, support and financing of the media in Euskera” was signed, to which nine municipalities were added and which has now been suspended by the City of Amurrio.
They have reminded the Basque Government of the importance of this convention: “The result of this collaborative path has been that during all these years the media, a strategic tool for the revitalization of the Basque country, has become very and well rooted in the region, and has become an essential cane for the revitalization of the language for thousands and thousands of citizens.” The media has considered the “collaboration between local institutions and the social fabric of citizenship” essential for the revitalization of the Basque country. Aiaraldea has now taken a step further along that road and hopes to be able to re-establish the partnership agreement with the City Hall.