Otxandiano faces 21-A with fear that his refusal to condemn ETA will bring down Bildu's euphoria

Just a row of buildings separates Bilbao’s Plaza Nueva – where Pello Otxandiano concludes his campaign – from El Arenal – where Imanol Pradales does the same -. A row as narrow as the margin that will determine, next Sunday, whether Bildu takes the Basque Parliament’s dominance away from the PNV. The jeltzales meeting was accompanied by the lively sound of bagpipes, while the nationalist rally was surrounded by a cluster of terraces where live music played. Both events were well-attended and even attracted some Athletic fans wearing their team’s jerseys before heading to San Mamés.

Located in the heart of historic Bilbao, in front of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language, Bildu concluded its electoral campaign yesterday. This campaign could mark the first victory for the nationalist left in the Basque elections. However, Pello Otxandiano’s refusal to classify ETA as a “terrorist band” has generated controversy and could have repercussions at the polls. The most recent Sigma Dos poll for EL MUNDO predicts 34% of the vote and up to 30 seats for Bildu, but the 340,000 undecided Basques could sway the results based on Otxandiano’s stance on ETA.

Concerned about the impact it may have, Otxandiano quickly modified his speech, asking for forgiveness for “hurting the sensitivity of the victims of ETA” to mitigate potential damage and maintain the positive trajectory of Bildu’s campaign in recent weeks. Now, the focus is on those undecided voters who could be swayed by his words to choose a different political alternative.

“We could have chosen to make promises and distort the words of the opponent,” reproached the candidate, “but we chose to confront the situation our country is facing, to rise above it and elevate the political discourse.” Otxandiano urged voters to support “change,” asserting that it can only be achieved if EH Bildu achieves their best results in history. He was accompanied by Arnaldo Otegi, the general coordinator of the abertzales, and prominent figures in the nationalist left, such as Pere Aragonès, the president of the Generalitat, and Conor Murphy, the Minister of Economy of Northern Ireland.

Bildu’s campaign closing was consistent with their overall tone in recent weeks, focusing on “political regeneration,” housing, and public health. These issues have also helped reconnect with confederal left voters who feel left without options due to the fracture between Podemos and Sumar. Gone are the days when Iglesias’ party took away Bildu’s traditional strongholds in Gipuzkoa.

While a potential victory for the Abertzales on Sunday would signify a historic defeat for the PNV, who have been the leading force in all regional elections since the Transition, except for the PSE’s victory in 1986, Bildu has reopened the possibility of a pact between nationalists. “We extend our hands,” reiterated Otegi in Bilbao, expressing openness to agreements between the left that “fulfills the popular mandate beyond party alliances.” The objective is to prevent the sum of votes from the PNV and the PSE from being sufficient to maintain the current coalition government, making Bildu or the PP the determining factor in governing.