A week of (artificial?) row in Euskadi
VictoryThe PNB and the PSE-PSOE, partners in the government of lehendakari Imanol Pradales, have been bickering for a week in a sterile controversy caused by a PSE meme in which Aitor Esteban appeared jumping into the pool. The socialists were trying to ridicule statements by the jeltzale leader in which he appreciated that the agreement between the PNB and the PSE with EH Bildu on the new status was very close.
A trivial matter that has acquired the status of political confrontation, because both have fueled it instead of easing it. And from this two readings can be extracted. The first, that the PNB and Esteban have very thin skin when mockery hits their target; and even more so if you consider that, in response to the "indecent" meme in question, Esteban suspended a high-level meeting with state officials for the transfer of airports.
And the second, and more important, is that both parties have staged this artificial brawl so that the trees do not let them see a forest of big problems that Basque society has posed and to which the government is not knowing how to respond, among other things, because they do not agree on how to approach them. They do not agree on the issue of housing –the PNB voted against Sánchez's measures in Congress–; nor on migratory policy, which the jeltzalescontinue to relate to security in line with the PP, nor on the new status that is to replace the Statute of Guernica.
The treatment of Basque in the Basque administration, regarding the updating of linguistic profiles, also confronts the partners. In recent times there has been a cascade of judicial rulings spurred by CCOO and the UGT, which have become a real offensive against Basque, which both the PNB and EH Bildu want to stop by giving more legal certainty to hiring. An offensive that the PSE applauds because it guarantees the rights of (Spanish-speaking) workers.
What crisis?
But, as Supertramp said in 1975: "Crisis? What Crisis?" In Euskadi, both partners are striving not to give the appearance of a crisis in government. Esteban has been quick to lower the soufflé, as Xabier Arzalluz would say, by pointing out that the coalition executive "is not at risk", but he has warned: "We will not be silent". The lifelong jeltzale "we'll take note" that he uses when he won't do anything, but which aims to express displeasure to the public. What the PNB has done is go to Pedro Sánchez so that he would condemn the conduct of the Basque socialists. The jeltzales always go to the head of Madrid when they have a problem with the Basque leaders. They also do so with the PP; even with Sumar. But this time they have hit a nerve with a PSE leader, Eneko Andueza, who, for lack of votes, does have the fact that he is a person who does not shy away from confrontation; moreover, he moves best in turbulent waters.
And what does Pradales think of all this? The lehendakari, who is more concerned about government action that is not yielding results and about the continuous disagreements between the two partners, has avoided controversy. When asked about the issue, he replied ironically: "What a beautiful day it is today". So, government paralysis is not resolved by stirring coffee with a small spoon.
With one year to go before a new electoral cycle begins in Euskadi (municipal and regional elections in 2027 and autonomous elections in 2028), this vaudeville squabble says very little about the government partners who for more than two years have been promoting exemplary conduct and political ethics in contrast to what is happening in Madrid.
