Since he was arrested in Poland on 28 February 2022, Biscayan journalist Pablo González Yagüe has been imprisoned. He is accused of being a spy of Russia, but “this accusation is not based on any evidence,” explains the motion tabled by Gauzatu-Zurekin in the Parliament of Navarra.

The purpose of the paper was that the Government of Spain “immediately and with all clarity and conviction” urge Poland to release González or “give access to the procedure to its lawyer to clarify its situation”. But the motion is approved with the majority support of the House and UPN, PP and Vox vote against, and the PSN abstains. Only Geroa Bai and EH Bildu voted in favour.

It should be remembered that the violations of the rights of Gonzalez’s case are not limited to the injustice of detention, as an isolation regime is being suffered in the prison itself. Both the family and Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International or the Reporter Without Borders report that González is only allowed the minimum number of visits he should receive as such and dedicates 23 hours a day in a cell without sunlight.

For this reason, the motion of the Foral Parliament called on the Spanish Government to "exert the greatest diplomatic pressure" after Pablo González highlighted the "violation of practically all of its rights as a citizen of the European Union".

Draft budgets ready

Despite the discrepancies that are taking place in the various motions and institutional statements at the beginning of the legislature, the Government approved the draft budget for 2024 this week. The expenditure ceiling is EUR 5,743 million, 9.6% higher than last year. In the words of the Minister of Economy and Finance, José Luis Aristi, next year’s measures “will be based on government priorities, such as social spending and improving public resources as an instrument for the economic development of the community”. Now the government has to seek the support of EH Bildu to move the budgets forward.