The Municipal Government of Amurrio has been surrendered the attachments of 1,700 citizens and agents in favor of the restoration of the subsidy of the Media Ayaraldea
- Several media workers and partners attended the plenary of the City of Amurrio a week ago to denounce the elimination of the subsidy for the second year. The mayor, Txerra Molinuevo, gave no answer.
On January 30, several members and employees of the Aiaraldea Media attended the plenary of the Amurrio City Council to denounce that the local organization has again withdrawn the subsidy to the only Basque-only media in the region, “for the second year in a row”.
The partner, Andere Larrinaga, took the floor during the round of pleas and questions. The Amurrio asked Mayor Txerra Molinuevo and the rest of the municipal government to reinstate the subsidy, denouncing that it is not “politically legitimate” that the Amurrio City Council does not want to meet with members of the media. “We know that there have been multiple attempts and that there was also a willingness on the part of the media to adapt to the conditions of the Amurrio City Council. The City Council, on the other hand, has repeatedly refused to meet,” explained Larrinaga in the plenary, “in addition to the fact that the City Council has not even responded to the request made by more than 1,700 agents and individuals (including 500 of Amurrio) on June 21.”
Thus, the Media Partner asked the Amurrio City Council “to reopen the channels for dialogue and agreement”, because “it has neither the leg nor the head that the Amurrio City Council, being a Basque language, does not grant subsidies to a Basque language media and, even more, to the only one in the region”.
Aiaraldea A media worker (Txabi Alvarado) spoke next. He referred to the “star argument” of the City Council that Aiaraldea Media is a “private company”. “We responded to this question with a rather crude analysis,” explained Alvarado, who physically handed this article over to members of the municipal government.
He also stressed that these arguments were “obsolete” after the accessions granted by more than 1,700 agents and individuals. “Every time you propose not to give a meeting to the Aiaraldea Media, you are turning your back on all these people,” he said.
In the face of this, the member of the media stressed that they are still “holding out their hand”. “In November, we sent you a concrete proposal to solve all this conflict, to which you have not responded either. This is the only response we have received: the elimination of the subsidy also in this year’s budgets.”
The reporter announced that things would move to a new phase. “The Aiaraldea Media project was created by a large group of citizens and was presented in Amurrio almost 15 years ago. We’ll stay here, whether you want it or not.”
No response from the Mayor
Mayor Txerra Molinuevo made no response or comment after the talks and immediately passed the speaking time to other citizens who attended the plenary (i.e., members of the movement against the rise of IBI).
Solidarity initiative in the spring
After the Plenary, the video was recorded by the staff and partners of the Media in the Pleno hall. It was announced that a solidarity initiative will be prepared in Amurrio for the spring to increase support and adherence to the media among the population and that the project will celebrate its 15th anniversary this year.
Over the past few weeks I have had these two books in my hands: The space of reflection in Basque (Euskaltzaindia, 2024) and Mariano Ferrer, reflexive journalism. Journalism and commitment (Erein, 2023) . I have read that 42.2% of Basques see ETB1 and 20.6% read the Basque... [+]
Over the past few weeks I have had these two books in my hands: The space of reflection in Basque (Euskaltzaindia, 2024) and Mariano Ferrer, reflexive journalism. Journalism and commitment (Erein, 2023) . I have read that 42.2% of Basques see ETB1 and 20.6% read the Basque... [+]
