The internationalist Askapeña Comparsa, who has turned 30 this year, has been selected as a member of the group. Uribarri’s Ane Ortiz Ballesteros (Bilbao, 1989) is the chosen person dressed in red jacket to replace the trousers this year. Anne is an Equality Specialist and Sexologist.

Also in 2004 it was up to the Askapeña company to select the puppet among its members. Then Begoña Benedicto was elected.

Among the proposals on the table, the Mixed Festive Committee for the tasks of Pregoilari has selected the Welcome Refugees Bizkaia platform. The platform will be in charge of selecting a friend among its members. This person has read the proclamation that will start the Great Week and, wearing yellow jackets, will replace the people of Bilbao during the nine days of the festivities.

The Welcome Refugees Bizkaia platform was created by a number of citizens who mobilised as a result of the tragedy caused by migration policies at the borders of entry to Europe, in order to show solidarity with refugees, demand safe routes for migrants, and demand that governments and the European Union change their asylum policies, among other things. As a first action, on February 27, 2016, the platform organized a demonstration in Arriaga to the Government Delegation and from there to the City Hall. A few days later, in March, Europe began to close its borders. Since then, they have carried out numerous meetings – weekly for a year – and denunciation initiatives. The caravan for Greece was organized in July 2016 and the Bienvenido Gernika 1937-2017 initiative was extended for three days in April this year. In July of this year the members of the platform are going to Mellira.A caravan has been organized to "denounce the migration policies of the Spanish State and the European Union".110 people will leave Bilbao.

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