Basque Revolution: Socialists and Independents Forward

The vote revolutionized the political map of the Basque region, rewarding left-wing socialists and independents, and inflicting a historic defeat on the Basque nationalist party. Looking at the three provinces of the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre – regions united by strong historical, linguistic and political ties – the PS is far ahead, getting results it hasn’t achieved since 2008.

From 20.5% in 2019 (five seats), the SWP jumped to 25.7, seven seats, receiving 70,000 votes and winning both Cav and Navarre, propelled by the “helpful vote” against the right. Right behind him is Euskal Herria Bildu, a coalition formed by Sortew (the pro-independence left-wing party born in 2011 at the same time Batasuna was dissolved) and other “sovereign” formations.

Bildoo first reaches Donostia County moving from 18.2% to 22.4%, 5 to 6 MPs, with 51,000 votes gained. On the other hand, the Basque Nationalist Party, a center-right regional formation that has long held court in the institutions of the autonomous Basque community, lost more than 100,000 votes, while in Navarre it plays a marginal role. Andoni Ortozar’s team lost one of its six elected officials, and even reached third place, dropping from 25 to 18.5%.

Good result of the Partido Popular which nearly doubles its share and moves from 6.9 to 12.7% and one to three seats, overtaking the Federal Left. Soumar lost three of the four seats it won in 2019 and rose from 16%, occupied by Unidas Podemos and Mass Base four years ago, to 11.5 on Sunday.

On the right, Vox remained in office with 3% and no seats. The reactionary regionalists of the Confederation of the People of Navarre win one elected seat, a limited number of seats that have proved, however, fundamental to the political balance of the country and above all to reissue the composite parliamentary majority that has so far supported Sánchez.

A-Bildo leader Arnaldo Otegi collects Pnv’s historic overrun: «We had the best results ever in a general election. Our growth direction is structural.” Then he asserted “We will do what we can to tip the balance, at the state level, on the side of the left and anti-fascism.” Translator: Bildue deputies are ready to support Sanchez again, continuing to join forces with Escera and Sumar to extract some improvements from the executive provisions, as in the case of the housing law.

As for the local level, the first place won in the administrative elections in May and the second won on Sunday confirm, in the eyes of the Basque separatists, the validity of the strategy pursued.

Long Bildoo He tried to persuade the Pnv to form a Catalan-style “National Front”, but was forced to capitulate due to the lack of centre-right regionalism, wedded to their role as needles of the balance and directors of public affairs. Now Bildu is instead seeking to form front ampOr the center-left with the Socialists and Sumar in order to oust the Pnv from power and give the Basque lands a progressive majority.

“Basque Mandela,” as Otegi was renamed for his role in the pro-independence left in favor of demilitarization and the dissolution of ETA, insists on the need for a “quiet revolution” through “broad alliances” and the conquest of cultural and political hegemony. Aiming for independence in the background, Bildo is interested above all in a leading role in state politics.

The surge in support and the release of his two elected deputies in Madrid – whom the right vehemently denounced for attacking the socialists, for collaborating with “communists and terrorists” – appears to prove Otegi right, at least for the time being.