The era of Alliot-Marie (MAM) and Jean Grenet is finite. The PSKO, with Sylvianne Alaux and Collette Capdevielle on the bench, has announced their presence in the House. There has been a change of two Members in Ipar Euskal Herria. Is there that change in society as well?

The change in the elections has been remarkable, as these two Members and political figures on the right have been discarded. As far as sociology is concerned, a change is taking place, albeit slow. This change has occurred especially on the coast, supported by the context. The voting trend has been affected by a number of elements, including the deep economic crisis in Iparralde. The change that has taken place in the State has also influenced here, that is, that the Left should come to power. Similarly, the responsibility of the Abertzales is clear, the Iparralde themes have been included in the campaign and this has influenced the intentions of Members and parties. Thus, MAM and Grenet have been Members for many years, against local issues. Therefore, the greatest success has been to stay out, because these people have placed obstacles in the way of the knowledge of this people. In this context, the two Socialist Members took their place at the investiture session of López. People expect a better socioeconomic model and the knowledge of Euskal Herria.

The National Front (FN) has fallen by about 8 per cent in Iparralde. What do you think?

Disturbing. It is sometimes said that this vote is contested, but I am not so sure. Inside, in the voting campaign, people have said that “I am not against foreigners,” or “I am not from the NNN.” However, people’s concerns are echoed in the issues addressed by the FN: racism, insecurity... These issues, for example, in Urepel, make no sense, so television seems to influence people's choices. It is worrying, because it is not a contested vote, but a vote that is taking root.

Another curious fact has been that nationalists have supported the Socialists on the coast, not inside.

Because on the coast he's voted more Abertzales, and perhaps because they've better identified those two figures, the anti-Basque ones. Having realised that the nationalists were able to sidestep them, they voted in favour of the Socialists. In the interior there was no desire for the centrist Jean Lassalle to remain on the sidelines. On the contrary, Frantxua Maitia’s career has created a great helplessness within the Abertzales in voting. They cannot be tolerated for a long time. It also has to do with their attitude. In general, the nationalists’ mistrust of the socialist party is historic, there are many elements to ensure that the vote of the nationalists to the socialists is not a natural trend.

How did you rate Frantxua Maitia's reactions? Comparison between EH Bai and FN, for example.

It looks like it doesn't talk about intelligence, but it does talk about failure. He spoke with indignation and it is surprising, because he has not just entered politics. Their statements, serious, have once again put fences, do not help the Abertzales to generate the lack of confidence we have with the Socialists. In addition, the explanations he has given are false. Most Abertzales say they voted for Lassalle, and it's not true. One third of the Abertzales did not vote: they stayed at home or voted blank, and the majority of those who voted have opted for Maitia. Maitia has realised that the 1,000 votes that were missing were those of the Abertzales. But then we compare ourselves to the FN, to say that we are right-wing nationalists ... Basically, it has acted out of place, because we have not asked for the vote in its favour, and people have realised that.

However, Maitia is working on the demands of the Basque nationalists.

Yes and no. Maitia did not make a clear statement in the debate in the Development Council. Nor does it have a clear position on the issue of the Territorial College. Love shouldn't look for criminals. Sometimes the ELB is guilty, sometimes EH Bai. It has to do self-criticism and has not done so at the moment.

Will the new Hollande Government lead the Territorial Community?

There is still a great lack of definition on the part of the state. A year ago, the territorial reform was voted on, in which several changes were planned. At Sarkozy's time, the Socialists said that that reform would bring some changes, if they were to go to the government. That is now the case. That reform was voted on, the Socialists agreed that they would not implement it, and so far the system that has been implemented so far has been removed. However, we do not know whether in 2014 we will vote for the general advisors, will be revoked or a new territorial advisor will be created. The Socialists said that they were going to destroy that figure that Sarkozy had proposed. There is therefore a kind of lack of definition. In any case, the third decentralization plan is already underway, and if a change is to be made for Ipar Euskal Herria, it will come in that direction. Now the questions are: Is the PSE committed to promoting the College’s demand here? Do you have the will to make this special request within the reform?

Have you talked about it with the PS?

Between the two rounds of voting, EH Bai asked the PS: will they implement the statements that their candidates have made during the campaign? Within the PSE, however, there are two lines. Members Maitia, Allaux and Capdevielle, Senator Espagnac, may be willing to organize the Territorial Community, but the PSN has another tendency, very jacobin: Jean Espilondo, Claude Serres, David Abibe Bearnon, Henri Emmanuelli Landeseta. These are very opposed to the Society. The question is there. The SW has a majority in the institutions of Paris, in the region and in the Department. If you like, they've never been easier. Do they have the will? It is logical that we should have doubts about this, and that is why we should continue to appreciate the actions of those Members. Next fall there is an important quote...

In Larregón is the time for the Batera platform. Has the time of Unification been exhausted?

No. One thing is not over: the need for mobilisation. One does. One has to make progress in popular declarations and in the Council of Elects, and one has an impact on the other. If we have reached this tipping point, it is thanks to the mobilisation for the institution. The Abertzales have drawn other sectors into our dynamics and we have reached an important turning point. If the electorate bets on the Territorial College, it will be supported on the street, even in the City Councils. The time for mobilisation has not run out, we have to speed it up more than ever and move on.

Will the Territorial Community comply with the request of the Basque Department?

These structures already exist in the territories that depend on the French State, such as the corsican community.

Can Corsica be an example?

It may be, but for the abertzales that model has to take into account some red lines: one, the Corso model can be a source of inspiration, but that serves Corsica. We need another model here, which is the result of the will of the citizens, which comes from the expression of consultation. Two, it has to respond to our specific situation. And three, we have to start breaking down step by step, it has to be something evolutionary, that brings competences and development.

At this point, demarcating will be found in the Constitution.

We are not maximizing the possibilities offered by the French Constitution, as has been said, the Corso example is there. In any case, that is the problem of Paris. Paris already has several political conflicts on its territory, so if the people are asking for something in Iparralde, Paris has to respond to that, and France has it. And if you have to change the Constitution, you have to change it. Here's the example of Euskera. They say that their official status goes against the Constitution, so the second article will have to be changed, and that can be done with political will.

In 2014 it will be the votes of the people. The real time of EH Bai, nothing else.

To a large extent, yes. Those are the most appropriate choices for us, to give continuity to our sustainable work. EH Bai has seen significant growth in recent years, and not only in votes, but it is gaining social and internal cohesion. EH Bai is moving from being a coalition of parties to being a left-wing and Basque instrument, and that is of fundamental importance in the people’s elections. It is a party of all the leftist Basque nationalists, moreover, in those votes in most peoples the nationalists will not come under the acronym EH Bai, because in small peoples there is no possibility of doing so. It is therefore clear that all the work we do serves to achieve cohesion, and in 2014 we will be able to reap great potential in many peoples.

On the peace process: How do you see the political conflict from Iparralde? How have you seen the legalization of sortu?

We have, of course, seen with good eyes the legalisation of sortu. It has created as much joy among us as the expulsion of the MAM, less in society, because there is not enough knowledge and awareness. But it is clear, as was evident at the Conference in Aiete, that the steps taken in the peace process are the pulse to gain the knowledge of Ipar Euskal Herria. In the Declaration of Aiete, the Spanish and French states are questioned, they are the causes of this conflict, states that there is a people and a conflict here. When we [Batasuna] committed to national institutionalization, we made an equation to solve the conflict holistically. Even though situations are different here and there, there are several parameters that are the same. They're different rhythms, but they're the same compasses and goals. For example, in Hego Euskal Herria all the options will be possible through sortu. There has been no legalisation here, but here too we have to create a political scenario where our political choice is legitimate. To do this, first of all, our territory has to be known to define our project in that territory. And no, for example, that, as happens in the elections, I, for example, as a candidate, have to present our project in the same field as Biarno and Euskal Herria.

Significant politicians were present in the Aiete Declaration. Do you trust their work and their attitudes?

It was a big step to see politicians here: Brisson, Lasserre, Ezenarro. According to them, the act made them change the chip and in the post-event efforts, in the Development and Electorate Councils of the French Basque Country, they have found a new situation. They mention the new situation, although for them the new situation is in Spain, since for them the ceasefire of ETA is a Spanish matter. However, they recognize that the act of Aiete has had consequences here and that it has generated a change here as well. Then, of course, they say they were on their behalf. In other words, their intentions need to be turned into intentions of their parties, into actions, and we have not achieved that at the moment. The fine declarations of the PS in Aiete have been used in the campaign of the last elections, with words of good intent, but which must be put into practice.