Esteban and Andueza scheduled their initial formal discussion on Wednesday to strengthen their ties.
Two powerhouses of Basque politics, PNV's EBB president Aitor Esteban and PSE-EE's general secretary Eneko Andueza, are set to meet next Wednesday at Sabin Etxea's jeltzale headquarters in Bilbao. Their mission? To grease the wheels and align actions between these two political parties that rule the Basque Government and key Euskadi institutions.
You might be interested in:Potential train delay due to a catenary snag It's their first official tete-a-tete since Aitor Esteban replaced Andoni Ortuzar as EBB president on March 30. These two leaders first met at the Gernika Casa de Juntas tribute for the first legislature's parliamentarians, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the Basque Chamber's constitution.
Monday, May 5, will mark the conclusion of Eneko Andueza's round of contacts with various Basque political formations, started after his re-election as PSE-EE General Secretary in February.
On the agenda for Esteban and Andueza will be the prospect of a new statutory pact, an undertaking from their coalition agreement in Euskadi and promised in the investiture pact between PNV and PSOE on November 10, 2023. This document stresses the importance of upgrading and expanding self-government through negotiations for the national status of Euskadi, safeguarding Basque competencies, and a bilateralist-foralist system of guarantees.
They've got a tight timeline: one and a half years from the beginning of the new Basque legislature. Andoni Ortuzar initially reached out to other Basque parties at the end of October 2024, sparking a discreet dialogue between PNV, PSE-EE, and EH Bildu.
Diplomatic chats between these Basque parties over the renewal of self-government are "going smoother than ever" according to EH Bildu spokesperson Mertxe Aizpurua in the Congress of Deputies on May 2. Yet, the new statutory text or "new status" will almost certainly entail the recognition of Euskadi's national status, with the points of contention centering around bilateralism and the right to decide, a point PSE-EE contest.
With a reportedly friendly relationship between PSE-EE and Andoni Ortuzar, eyes will be on the PNV-PSE dynamics with Esteban at the helm. Their discussions will also address recent disagreements, such as the criticism from PSE-EE leaders about PNV's perceived stance on the TAV link between the Basque Country and Navarra. Such matters will play a crucial role in establishing the future working relationship between the two parties.
Sources consulted by Europa Press believe that by setting "coordination and personal contact mechanisms" with the new PNV leadership, both parties can make collective decisions and address potential conflicts swiftly. They also emphasize the importance of updating their collaboration on institutional action while maintaining a political impulse for the coalition parties.
The goal is to ensure a united front in handling any situations, creating a team spirit that addresses and resolves issues effectively. Given this long-standing alliance, PSE-EE is optimistic about preserving the same collaborative relationship with the newly appointed PNV leadership.
- The meeting between PNV's EBB president Aitor Esteban and PSE-EE's general secretary Eneko Andueza, scheduled for next Wednesday in Bilbao, aims to establish coordination and personal contact mechanisms to make collective decisions and address potential conflicts swiftly.
- One of the main topics on the agenda for Esteban and Andueza will be the prospect of a new statutory pact, an undertaking from their coalition agreement in Euskadi and promised in the investiture pact between PNV and PSOE, emphasizing upgrading and expanding self-government, safeguarding Basque competencies, and a bilateralist-foralist system of guarantees.
- A reportedly friendly relationship between PSE-EE and former PNV leader Andoni Ortuzar may influence the dynamics between the two parties with Esteban at the helm, as their discussions will also address recent disagreements like the criticism from PSE-EE leaders about PNV's perceived stance on the TAV link between the Basque Country and Navarra.
- In the current Basque politics, policy-and-legislation, general news, and politics across the region will closely watch the diplomatic chats between these Basque parties over the renewal of self-government, as the new statutory text or "new status" will almost certainly entail the recognition of Euskadi's national status, with points of contention centering around bilateralism and the right to decide, a point PSE-EE contest.
