Otegi's international plan: a breakfast with consuls in Bilbao during the San Sebastián Film Festival
The nationalist left knows that it is a good time to take advantage of the delicate political situation that exists in Spain. And, through its satellites, it is already sending messages of some of the demands that it wants to put on the table in the negotiations to support the Government and the possible legislature.. But, in addition, faced with the weakness of a long period with an acting Executive, the radical nationalists also try to extend their tentacles to the international arena, a movement that they have always tried to carry out when ETA was active in its terrorist branch and that It bore important results in certain European countries that collaborated less intensely in the fight against ETA.
Thus, as EL MUNDO has learned, in recent weeks, Bildu has been inviting foreign legations to an event in Bilbao in which they want to present their vision “of the country” and explain what their political postulates are to move towards the independence of the Basque Country. His speech will be based on three axes. The first, defend the release of the ETA prisoners since they will defend again that they are “political prisoners.”. As an asset, they will expose the Government's movements to bring prisoners closer to prisons in the Basque Country and Navarra. His second postulate: the annexation of Navarra by the Basque Country. You will remember that the door is still open in the Constitution. And, finally, they will defend the independence of the Basque Country through a right to self-determination “of its people” and the possibility of remaining in the European Union.
An official invitation has been issued from the ranks of EH Bildu “to the first breakfast-meeting between our political formation and the consular corps,” the invitation explains.. «The meeting will be held at the Meliá Hotel in Bilbao, at 9:30 a.m. on September 29, just the eve of the closing of the San Sebastián Film Festival, this year surrounded by controversy over the broadcast of an interview with the ETA member. claimed by the National Court 'Josu Ternera'.
«The meeting is to get to know each other and present the work of Euskal Herria Bildu in the field of International Relations. The General Coordinator, Arnaldo Otegi, and the Senator and Director of International Relations, Gorka Elejabarrieta, will be present,” the invitation adds.
According to sources close to the event, the response is being very uneven.. In several of the consulates expected to be invited “they know nothing about the matter nor have they received any mail”. But they have received it from many Europeans who have already shown their reluctance to participate in political party events.. In some cases, they have previously chosen to send it to their embassy so that it can make the decision and they are waiting to receive responses.. This move by Bildu occurs just during the week of the San Sebastián film festival, one of the events in the Basque Country with the greatest international projection.. In this edition, in addition, it will start with a strong controversy especially in the world of victims of terrorism since an interview with 'Josu Ternera' will be broadcast at the opening, claimed for the attack against the barracks house of the Civil Guard of Zaragoza. Three civil guards and eight of their relatives were murdered, including five minors.. Another 88 people were injured.
Campaign against the Civil Guard
On the other hand, a new campaign against the Civil Guard is already starting from the publication pages of the nationalist left.. An article signed by the historic nationalist Patxi Zabaleta defends the demilitarization of the Civil Guard, which would later lead to its dissolution.. “They bark, then we ride,” goes the old Latin saying. The vociferous right does not defend the rank and file officials of the Civil Guard, but rather the character and military leadership of an institution, whose conditions partially prevented during the reform and continue to hinder democratically essential changes in democracy,” the former begins his text. Navarrese politician who was a founding member of the HB and Nafarroa Bai coalitions.
«I am convinced that if it were put to a vote among the rank and file guards, whether said body should stop being military and become civilian, the option of civilization would win, without a doubt. “Only such a change would imply the dissolution of the Civil Guard, as a military institute, and would entail the recognition of basic rights such as unionization, strike, opinion, assembly, etc.”