That is where the objective of Popular Platforms of Rights (PGV) is located, which we have begun to spread people to people. That is the open contribution that ELEAK-Libre makes to this general reinvention process. We propose to create a unifying, comprehensive social movement in favour of civil and political rights that will be indispensable in the future of Euskal Herria. These days, in Catalonia or at the recent G7 summit in Biarritz, both States have shown their readiness to reach what is essential in the destruction of rights. If we want to conquer freedom, we have to prepare ourselves for that confrontation, and there is the need for general reinvention to be carried out among all.

We do not, therefore, intend to create an organisation that is immersed in an anti-repressive dynamic in the face of the repression carried out by the States, not least because the States want to stifle our social and political dynamics around their repressive initiative. Our proposal is to create a new and broad social movement in defence of civil and political rights, on the basis of joint work. So our working method is characterised by a commitment to ours rather than to others. Because only by implementing and guaranteeing our rights will we channel Basque democracy.

And this new reflection we've made public now, because like the world, Euskal Herria is changing rapidly and radically. Our people have undergone major high-speed transformations, both in labour relations and in the consumption model, in social organization, in the repression model we suffer and, of course, in the linguistic and cultural fields. It's all our daily lives that are radically changing.

Faced with this situation that oppresses us as a people and as a person, more and more political and institutional players on the left have decided to set aside political parties in Basque society and leave their work, their contribution and also their fight, in social movements or in social and trade union agents. Consequently, apart from the logic of the political forces, the Basque social community is getting stronger, a broad social movement is being structured, the leftist space is being strengthened autonomously and self-managed. And when it turns on, it shows an extraordinary force.

This is reflected in the strongest social dynamics that we have seen in recent times in Euskal Herria, such as pensioners (€1080 demand), women (feminist strike and response against sexist aggressions), ecology (movement around incineration or climate), Euskera (Festivities in favour of the ikastolas and public schools or KORRIKA) or the activation of the youth citation. But even though these demands have gained visibility, they have not become truly central to the day-to-day politics of most political forces and institutions.

The same is true in the context of the global crisis facing the European Union. In the face of the neoliberal policies being pursued from there, new social dynamics and broad and strong social movements are taking place in the European Union. The movement around the climate, the feminist movement, the movement against the immigration policy that makes the Mediterranean a grave, the workers’ movement against precariousness… They are all witnesses to this. In the same vein, we refer to the movement of these Jackets, which in the French State has brought the Macron Government upside down, or the anti-fascist movement which has been strengthened in the Spanish State in the face of the rise of the neo-fascists in the Andalusian elections.

Also in Euskal Herria and in Catalonia (in the Catalan countries) social dynamics are being consolidated and, we know, the states will tighten their anti-democratic policy to the same extent as we advance our dynamic of social and national liberation.

But in the face of this reality, in Euskal Herria there are still hundreds of social and union struggles of neighborhood, town, region and nation. And in the same situation are the thousands of Basques and Basques that are immersed in these dynamics.

What we propose is to begin to articulate all these multiple social dynamics around a common claim, in defense of the civil and political rights that belong to us. Because as long as we are not able to articulate that work together, we will not be able to take real steps to create such a broad social movement that is the indispensable engine for transformation. We will not be able to get a real political and social initiative. We will not overcome the institutional, conventional and hegemonic political dynamics. We will not be able to create in Euskal Herria something similar to the popular dynamic that has driven the process of liberation of Catalonia. In two words, we will not be able to build “popular power”.

In this context, we believe that there are three main knots to be released. The first is to seek that common claim that is compatible with all the citizen dynamics, agreeing between all and all the main txapela. We, for all that we have said, place that common claim in the defence of civil and political rights. Secondly, to create the social subject, the social movement, to channel this claim. We propose to start shaping the Popular Rights Platforms (PGL) as a priority, people to people, to decide and organize a common, shared and shared dynamic between all and all. We don't want to start the house on the roof. The dynamic of the G7 has also shown us that there are still no conditions to promote such a broad dynamic from the national level. And the third is that this work should associate the street dynamics and social criticism and develop civil disobedience, direct action, lack of collaboration and popular resistance.

We want to spread the presentation and debate of our proposal in all neighborhoods and towns and for this we ask for your cooperation. If we want to deal with the next involution, we all have to reinvent each other.

Joseba Alvarez and Ione San Ildefonso

Members of ELEAK-Libre.