Redaccion
Leaders of the PNV and PSE-EE temper EH Bildu’s optimism about new self-government and ensure that «there is still a lot to be done.»
The President of the EBB of the PNV, Aitor Esteban, and the Secretary-General of the PSE-EE, Eneko Andueza, laid the foundations of their understanding relationship on Wednesday and noted that the coordination of their respective political parties, partners in the Basque Government and in the main institutions of Euskadi, «works well and effectively for the benefit of the citizens.»
Although they did not address the issue of a new self-government status, they downplayed the optimism shown a few days ago by the EH Bildu spokesperson in Congress, Mertxe Aizpurua, who stated that the discussions between the parties «are going better than ever» and called for discretion. While Esteban stated that the negotiations are «progressing,» but «there is still a lot to be discussed,» Andueza, in the same vein, explained that there is still «a lot to talk about.»
A representation of the new Executive Committees of the PNV and PSE-EE, headed by their respective leaders, held their first official meeting on Wednesday at the jeltzale headquarters in Bilbao, which lasted for an hour.
Among the jeltzales, the EBB secretary, Maite Ipiñazar, and the Institutional Policy officer, Joseba Díez Antxustegi, who is also the PNV spokesperson in the Basque Parliament, were present. The socialist delegation was completed by the Organizational Secretary, Miguel Ángel Morales, and the Institutional Secretary, Begoña Gil.
After the meeting, Aitor Esteban and Eneko Andueza, separately, expressed satisfaction with the meeting. Esteban emphasized the cordiality between them and reported that they had discussed «generally» the functioning and mechanics of the relationship between both parties, once their executives were renewed in the first quarter of this year.
They also reviewed current topics such as industry and energy, «but also the mechanics being implemented in the Basque Parliament and Basque Government, which are good.» «The relationships within the institutions work well and effectively for the benefit of the citizens,» stated the jeltzale leader, adding that they also discussed the political situation in Madrid and «the surrounding circumstances.»
The EBB president highlighted that the meeting was «very pleasant» and necessary. «I believe it lays the groundwork for future relationships, which are already well-oiled due to the years of agreements with the PSE-EE and I think have yielded good results,» he noted.
SELF-GOVERNMENT
In the meeting, as both political leaders confirmed, the issue of the connection of the High-Speed Train (TAV) between Euskadi and Navarra — which had been a subject of controversy recently — was not addressed, nor was the new self-government status for Euskadi, which is being discreetly discussed among jeltzales, socialists, and EH Bildu.
«These discussions are discreet and have their specific scope within each of the parties. This was not the forum to discuss this matter,» clarified Aitor Esteban, who, in any case, pointed out that they are «progressing.»
«We are talking, but it is a complicated, delicate issue that we at least intend to be an agreement between three parties, and it will take time. We will not speak more about this issue because it is not something we will say is all done tomorrow morning,» he warned.
He mentioned that it will be seen «whether it bears fruit or not.» «When facing these things, we must always be optimistic, but we must not take everything for granted, so we will see, there is still much to be done,» he emphasized.
Regarding Mertxe Aizpurua’s statements, who claimed that discussions between the parties on self-government are «better than ever,» he suggested that «she may not be very aware of how things are going.»
«I can assure you that I am, and there have been advances, but there is still much work to be done. It is complicated because we are three parties and there are difficult, thorny, and delicate issues, and I hope we overcome them,» he asserted.
However, he emphasized that their intention is «to advance as much as possible and successfully culminate» a new statutory pact. «But to say that this is all done, well, no. I can tell you that by tomorrow morning, no,» he added. In his opinion, this is «an important issue» on which he believes «discretion must be maintained.»
«A LOT TO TALK ABOUT» REGARDING THE NEW STATUTE
Eneko Andueza also considered that «discretion is the most prudent approach.» «We will have time to continue progressing, but the feeling I have is that there is still some time. There is a lot to talk about and work on,» he stated.
As he specified, there is a discreet dialogue, «without the predominance of some over others,» clearly referring to EH Bildu. «Here, those orbiting the axis formed by the PSE-EE and the PNV are the rest. We have the responsibility to govern and continue building the country, and it is the others, from the opposition, who will have to determine whether they join or do not join the government’s action, and the work that both parties are doing every day in all institutions,» he defended.
In a specific reference to the optimism shown by Aizpurua regarding the contacts on updating self-government, he opined that «everyone is trying to sell their message.»
COMPLETION OF THEIR ROUND OF CONTACTS
The leader of the Basque socialists recalled that, with today’s meeting with the PNV, he completes the round of contacts with the different parties that he initiated after the tenth Congress of the PSE-EE held in February, in which he was re-elected as the party’s leader.
«What unites us (with the PNV) is a government agreement, an entente that has been going on for ten years and provides stability to Euskadi, an element of which we are very proud,» he emphasized.
Andueza stated that their objective is «to base progress on a stability that is contributing significantly to the country’s growth» and highlighted that the entente with the jeltzale formation allows the PSE-EE to develop «progressive policies» in all institutions.
«That’s why we are in politics, to move forward, to progress, and, above all, to bring that policy down to the ground, to the reality that thousands and thousands of citizens in Euskadi live. Thanks to our presence in the government and also to that stability, their problems are being solved,» he asserted.
Emphasizing the «very cordial and fully understanding atmosphere» in which the meeting between leaders of the PNV and the PSE-EE was held, he pointed out that, with the changes in their Executive Committees, «new dynamics are established for the coordination and functioning of this coalition to continue to be as good as it has been so far.»
Therefore, he highlighted the spirit existing in jeltzales and socialists to continue collaborating through this coalition so that «Euskadi continues to look to the future with optimism, enthusiasm, and hope.»
Following this Wednesday’s meeting, a «first contact» between the leaders of the PNV and the PSE-EE, Eneko Andueza said there will be time for the dialogue to «intensify, especially on a personal level,» which, in his opinion, «is what usually works best for everything to develop normally.»
Therefore, he is confident that Aitor Esteban and he will establish «much more fluid communication» and channels for their coordination on the «topics that are gaining prominence» and those that are already on the table.
