The Basque electoral campaign faces its final hours with a close struggle between the PNV and EH Bildu and still focused on the controversy that arose after the statements of Pello Otxandiano, candidate of the Abertzale coalition, in relation to ETA, avoiding defining it as a “terrorist group” . If the PSE candidate, Eneko Andueza, had initially been the one who had capitalized on this demand from the pro-independence formation for a critical review of terrorism, in this final stretch of the campaign it is the PNV that puts the most vehement pressure on the Abertzale coalition, in a last attempt to mobilize the electorate.
Basque nationalists consider that in recent days a context has been generated that can activate the mobilization of their voters on Sunday. Firstly, due to the effect that the polls published until Monday could have, which placed the nationalist coalition in the lead, something that could favor the activation of an anti-Bildu vote.
Secondly, because they understand that Imanol Pradales, their candidate, emerged stronger from the ETB debate, followed by one in four Basques at some point, and they believe that his popularity is increasing. Finally, because they believe that Otxandiano’s statements on Cadena Ser have portrayed him on an ethical level and can stop some transfers of votes towards the nationalist coalition, as well as encourage a part of the undecided.
The PNV understands that the strategy of seeking a mobilization focused on stopping Bildu can work and they are not going to move from there until Sunday, given that the direction the campaign took during its first ten days, focused on issues of a social, did not favor them. For this reason, Pradales yesterday raised the issue of the critical review of the past by EH Bildu, a topic that had lost weight after Tuesday’s debate on ETB, where he did not even appear.
The Jeltzale candidate went to clash with Bildu in each of the events that took up his intense agenda: “Euskadi needs a Lehendakari who condemns ETA and who says categorically that killing was wrong and that there should not have been any type of violence. Let him call things by their name.”
By then, the Abertzale coalition had already chosen to publicly correct Otxandiano’s controversial statements on Cadena Ser, where this Monday he repeatedly avoided using the term terrorist group to refer to ETA. The head of the nationalist list affirmed yesterday that he “regrets” the response he gave, and asked for “forgiveness” to the victims of terrorism if with those words he hurt “their sensitivity.”
Otxandiano measured each word, did not move beyond the terms included in the statement of October 18, 2021 and avoided the term for which he had been questioned (references to ETA terrorism), but managed to settle the issue as far as possible. As far as his training is concerned, perhaps until Sunday. “One of the political sectors that today belongs to Bildu was an agent of pain in the past, but later it was part of the solution and today Bildu is in a position to be an agent of reconciliation. Proof of this is that on my lists there are people threatened by ETA in their day,” he expressed.
In the Abertzale coalition they continue to be installed in extreme caution. The campaign was going even better than they expected until Monday, and they want to avoid any surprises. They consider that the controversy over Otxandiano’s statements has been “orchestrated” and their objective is to return the campaign to the agenda that had dominated it during the first ten days. In any case, they do not rule out that this controversy could turn against jeltzales and socialists, if society appreciates that an electoral use has taken precedence.
The PNV itself is aware that Bildu may end up appearing as a victim. Therefore, within this decision to seek a clash with the nationalist formation they will also appeal to ideological antagonism. Pradales spoke yesterday of “two very different models”: “We must choose between supporting the transformation and advancement of the economy, society or culture from public-private, public-social and community cooperation, or the domain and expansion of the public in all social orders.”
