Confederate transition
Relations between the Basques and Castilla and the present Spain have not been tender. The conquest of the Basque territories that began in 1200 from Vitoria has left us over the centuries many bloody episodes. Thousands of people killed in the conquest of Navarre and in the Carlist wars demonstrate the historical resistance of the Basques so that our lands would not be left to others. The last massive bloody episode is the uprising organized by General Mola in 1936. Franco gave him continuity and the fascist system he established lasted until 1975. In the Basque Country, Franco killed thousands of citizens, forced thousands of others to travel abroad and abolished the autonomy of the three newly established countries in the West.
After Franco’s disappearance, the fundamental pillars of the fascist system remained intact and the new democracy emerged contaminated. Thousands of people were tortured and killed in police stations and on the street. They even went on to carry out a military uprising that seemed impossible in the European Union - the tanks go out into the street and shoot in Parliament - with one single objective: that the birds should not leave the cage laid by Madrid. They formed a terrorist group to work in the Basque Country with state resources. The Basques tried to desiccate the sources of information that we generated from the Basque Country. Many of those who were then young today, older, are still in prison without piety, although times have changed radically. The Basque is constantly cut off. The best athletes close their doors to compete with the best in the world against Basque colors... What empathy will the Basques have with that Spain One and Grande?
Suppose President Sánchez makes a strategic commitment to a multi-national state. Suppose we agreed on a phase of transition to independence in the Basque Country. How would we combine them?
Spain only produces agile, bitter and salty feelings, always far from candy. We locked ourselves in the cage, unable to freely shake the wings. We want to break the chains with Madrid, but in the short term it is difficult. Is it possible to take steps in that direction? Suppose that facing blue Spain, red Spain, led by President Pedro Sánchez, wants to make a strategic bet with those who call the periphery to form a plurinational state. Suppose we consider it appropriate to agree a phase of transition to independence in the Basque Country. How would we reconcile both positions? Federalism, which would offer us the same level of autonomy as today, is not enough. We should turn to the confederal model so that the balance of powers is unbalanced in our favour.
Confederal model
The Confederation is the meeting point between sovereign states to defend the same interests. Therefore, our case would not be entirely in this sense, because Euskal Herria is not an independent state. But we are very anxious about that independence and as in the coming months we have to start negotiating with the Spanish President, it would be good if we looked in the medium-long term. It's the time to risk, betting on a qualitative leap. No rush, but firmly. Firmly demonstrating that we are moving towards sovereignty.
Following the model of the Confederation, on the one hand, issues of a state level that would not be affected by the convention would be defined: State institutions (monarchy, senate...), nationality, foreign policy, surveillance of state borders, monetary system... Moreover, in determining the competences that would correspond to the Basque territories, we would call in full for education, health, security, social security, linguistic policy on the Basque Country, the management of workers’ rights, the guarantee of prisoners’ rights, culture and sport (including selections) and consultations with all citizens, the administration of all kinds of justice, culture and sport, etc.
The four provinces of the South would have the right of association recognised in a single statute of autonomy. On the other hand, when we talk about security, we are talking about the fact that in our territory there would only be police dependent on the Basque institutions, and that army barracks would collapse because we want to be a demilitarised country.
All this would not take us to independence, but it would take us to the portal of the independent house. A popular consultation would be held to complete the process. Quebeci (1980 and 1995) and Scotland (2014) were recognised with the same legitimacy.
This is the key that can open the cage door and allow us to fly like a free bird. Difficult access. What we will ever achieve.
Juan Mari Beloki Kortexarena
Bidali zure iritzi artikuluak iritzia@argia.eus helbide elektronikora
ARGIAk ez du zertan bat etorri artikuluen edukiarekin. Idatzien gehienezko luzera 4.500 karakterekoa da (espazioak barne). Idazkera aldetik gutxieneko zuzentasun bat beharrezkoa da: batetik, ARGIAk ezin du hartu zuzenketa sakona egiteko lanik; bestetik, egitekotan edukia nahi gabe aldatzeko arriskua dago. ARGIAk azaleko zuzenketak edo moldaketak egingo dizkie artikuluei, behar izanez gero.
You may not know who Donald Berwick is, or why I mention him in the title of the article. The same is true, it is evident, for most of those who are participating in the current Health Pact. They don’t know what Berwick’s Triple Objective is, much less the Quadruple... [+]
The article La motosierra puede ser tentadora, written in recent days by the lawyer Larraitz Ugarte, has played an important role in a wide sector. It puts on the table some common situations within the public administration, including inefficiency, lack of responsibility and... [+]
Is it important to use a language correctly? To what extent is it so necessary to master grammar or to have a broad vocabulary? I’ve always heard the importance of language, but after thinking about it, I came to a conclusion. Thinking often involves this; reaching some... [+]
The other day I went to a place I hadn’t visited in a long time and I liked it so much. While I was there, I felt at ease and thought: this is my favorite place. Amulet, amulet, amulet; the word turns and turns on the way home. Curiosity led me to look for it in Elhuyar and it... [+]
Adolescents and young people, throughout their academic career, will receive guidance on everything and the profession for studies that will help them more than once. They should be offered guidance, as they are often full of doubts whenever they need to make important... [+]
We have had to endure another attack on our language by the Department of Education of the Government of Navarre; we have been forced to make an anti-Basque change in the PAI program. In recent years, by law, new Model D schools have had to introduce the PAI program and have had... [+]
Public education teachers have the need and the right to update and improve the work agreement that has not been renewed in fifteen years. For this, we should be immersed in a real negotiation, but the reality is deplorable. In a negotiation, the agreement of all parties must be... [+]
A few weeks ago, on Diputación Street, in the centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz, two men threw a homeless person off the small landing outside the place where he slept. In addition to being thrown away, a metal railing was immediately placed in front of the lonja. Although the place... [+]
From linguistics or glotophobia and, of course, hatred against Basque, we have often seen our Basque become the dandruff of all sticks. Last of all, the president of Kutxabank, Anton Arriola, has been shaking our language and giving us galantas.The President of Kutxabank,
... [+]
Do not look for this connection from Ezkio or Altsasu, let alone crossing the Ebro River through Castejón. The connection, or rather the connections, between the Basque Y and the AVE of Navarre is already a reality. It is these links in the plural that should concern us and... [+]
Don't make a fuss, don't confront, don't victimize... and obey. As oppressed subjects, in this case as Basques, we talk, how many times have we had to listen to them? Ironically, two years ago, at the Euskalale Independentiston Meeting, Esne Arzallus said: "We have arrived here,... [+]
Aurten "Israel Premier Tech" txirrindularitza talde israeldarra ez da Lizarraldeko Miguel Indurain Sari Nagusia lasterketara etorriko. Berri ona da hori Palestinaren askapenaren alde gaudenontzat eta munstro sionistarekin harreman oro etetea nahi dugunontzat, izan... [+]
Intsumituek denbora luzez egindako borroka gogorra eta mingarria izan zen, baina irabazi zuten, eta garaipen hura behin betikoa izango zela uste genuen, atzera bueltarik gabea. Baina badirudi, politikari batzuen ahotik aterata, eskalada militaristari gorazarre egin eta berriz... [+]