The possibility that the PSOE and the PNV close a global pact in the Basque Country that in some institutions needs the PP is going to bring a tail and, probably, it is going to become a central element in the particular struggle between the jeltzales and EH Bildu. The general coordinator of the Abertzale coalition, Arnaldo Otegi, considers it “scandalous” that these two formations close “an alliance against EH Bildu with the PP of Ayuso” to displace his formation in the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Hall, the Durango City Council or the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. He has also censured the position of the socialists in Pamplona, ​​which could award the mayoralty to UPN.
The context is as follows. The PNV seeks to turn the page as soon as possible on the bad feelings that election night left it and wants to draw a context in which it appears as a winner. He considers that the way to achieve this is to maintain a good part of his institutional power and show that, although EH Bildu has prevailed in important places, he will not be able to govern in some of them.
The PSOE, meanwhile, wants it to be clearly seen that its ally in the Basque area is the PNV -Geroa Bai in the case of Navarra- and not EH Bildu. One of the axes of the socialist campaign for the general elections is to emphasize that the alternative to Pedro Sánchez’s government of progress is an alliance between the PP and Vox. The Socialists want to deactivate the argument that the popular have been using to defend their alliances with the extreme right: the agreements between the Socialists and EH Bildu. He wants the Abertzale coalition out of the equation, showing it as a temporary ally that has supported him when it comes to carrying out policies of a social nature.
In a Basque key, in addition, a global pact with the PNV would allow him to govern a capital (Vitoria-Gasteiz) 12 years later and would grant him stability in his fiefdoms. The PNV, meanwhile, would manage to continue governing in the three councils and would have stability in many municipalities.
The problem, however, is that the classic alliance between the PNV and PSE has on this occasion some relevant conditions, especially problematic for the jeltzales. The first of these is that, unlike in 2019, in many cases it is a pact between the second force and the third or fourth force to unseat the first. Secondly, in important places like Vitoria-Gasteiz, Gipuzkoa or Durango, it also needs the support of the PP.
These pacts, in addition, would be closed on the eve of an electoral campaign, which may imply wear and tear for a PNV that arrives touched, after having left 86,000 votes in the city councils.
The PSOE is determined to follow this path. It allows him to open a gap with respect to EH Bildu, make it appear that his ally is the PNV and gain institutional weight in the Basque Country.
The PNV also seems determined to take the step of signing the global pact with the Socialists, although it is aware of the risks involved in its particular battle with EH Bildu, eight weeks before a general election and less than a year from Basque elections.
The abertzale coalition has already begun to seek to wear down the jeltzales. “Is the PSE, with the PNV, going to be able to form an alliance in the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council or in Vitoria to remove EH Bildu, which is the leading political force, and within 15 days an electoral campaign is held to say that the PP is very bad and that we should not vote for it?” Arnaldo Otegi declared in an interview on Radio Euskadi.
The Abertzale leader has wondered if the PNV and PSE-EE will be able to “take the Durango Mayor’s Office or the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council from EH Bildu with the PP of Ayuso or Miguel Ãngel RodrÃguez -last on the Durango list-“. “Do it and explain it,” he added. In this sense, he recalled that four years ago, despite the fact that the coalition won in Pasaia, Andoain, Soraluze and Alonsotegi, PSE and PNV agreed to govern. “Well, now we have an absolute majority in those town halls. People take note,” he said.
Regarding the decision of the PSN not to support its candidate for mayor of Pamplona, ​​Joseba Asiron, the general coordinator of EH Bildu has indicated that the socialists “are making electoral calculations” and has indicated that they will not support the socialist candidate, with 5 councilors compared to the 8 achieved by the abertzale coalition.
