Aitor Esteban, the rugby player of politics
He admits that he wasn't very good, but what he has learned from this sport has helped him to be a good politician.
VitoriaAitor Esteban (Bilbao, 1962) has been involved in politics all his life, always in the PNV. He has a doctorate in law from the University of Deusto and since 1991, when he joined the Provincial Council of Vizcaya as secretary general of the Presidency and spokesman, he has not stopped. He learned from one of the best, Xabier Arzalluz, and in his shadow a group of young people, among whom were Iñigo Urkullu and Andoni Ortuzar, formed a group that became known as the Jobubis (Young Burukides Vizcaínos) who little by little won battles until they managed to control the party. On Wednesday, in his last control session in Congress, he said goodbye to a standing ovation from a good part of the deputies.
He entered the Spanish lower house in 2004 and for twelve years has served as spokesman for the PNV, after replacing Josu Erkoreka. In Madrid he has stood out for his great oratory and has proven to be intelligent and quick, as well as a skilled negotiator with everyone. Moderate and a pact-maker. He had not gotten involved in internal wars of succession. Until now. Nobody saw it coming, not even his friend Ortuzar.
This passionate about historical memory, who has even participated in historical recreations dressed as a guard, has, in addition to Athletic, another great passion: rugby. He inherited it from his father, with whom he watched the matches of the then V Nations Tournament on TV. Later he followed it live and even played for Universitario Bilbao Rugby. He played as a winger and admits that he was not very good, but what he has learned in rugby has served him to be a good politician.
His interventions in Congress using rugby as a reference have been widely applauded, such as when Pedro Sánchez warned that this legislature would be a "continuous kick forward to continue playing, but not in any way; sending the ball very high to give time for agreement before the ball comes down." He knows a lot about scrums, openings, maul, of touch and of ruck (dirty ball). And, of course, the third half, that space that rugby players like him use to fraternize... negotiate and agree. It will be good for him to calm the waters now as president of the PNV, as he has done so many times in Madrid.
