The spokesperson for the Basque Government, María Ubarretxena, has called for "civic spirit" and "democratic maturity" so that the general strike called for this Wednesday, November 11, runs without incidents. At the same time, she specified that the Ertzaintza has organized a specific operation "to ensure the peaceful progress of the day."
After the weekly meeting of the Cabinet Council, Ubarretxena spoke with the media and referred to the general strike called by the unions for this Tuesday, focused on demanding decent wages and affordable housing.
The representative of the regional executive conveyed a message of "calm and respect" in the face of the general stoppage. "The right to strike is a fundamental right and a legitimate expression of our democracy," she emphasized, adding that "those who decide to support it must be able to do so with full freedom and with all guarantees," in the same way that, as she also recalled, "the right of those who choose to go to their workplaces must be respected."
Special operation by the Ertzaintza
Ubarretxena reiterated her confidence in "the democratic maturity of Basque society" and that the day will unfold "normally, in a climate of civic spirit and coexistence." "We appeal to civic spirit so that tomorrow the day can be carried out without incidents," she insisted.
In any case, she stressed that the Ertzaintza "has a special device prepared to ensure the peaceful progress of the day, protect the rights of all people, and prevent possible incidents."
The spokesperson for the Basque executive contextualized this call within a few weeks "of intense public debate within the framework of a long election campaign and an international context marked by uncertainty." For this reason, she emphasized that "in moments like this it is especially important to convey serenity, responsibility, and trust."
As she pointed out, public institutions are obliged to respond to challenges such as inflation and difficulties in accessing housing, as well as to guarantee citizen security and public services "of quality." She stressed that the Basque Government is facing these challenges "from listening, unity, and dialogue."
In relation to the political and institutional scenario that could be configured after the general elections of 29 November, he has stressed that the regional Executive maintains the "determination" that "we are going to keep moving forward no matter what happens on 29 November". In his view, "what matters is what happens on 30 November; and on 30 November this country is going to keep moving forward and operating with all guarantees and with all the security".
Ubarretxena has detailed that the ten PNV councillors in the Basque Government — including the spokesperson herself — have communicated that they will go to work this Wednesday and will not support the strike. As for the PSE, which has five councillors in the Executive, it has limited itself to pointing out, without offering any further details, that "there are Socialist councillors who are going to work and there are some who have stated that perhaps they won’t".
For now, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda has confirmed that the councillor Denis Itxaso will work on Wednesday, while the councillor for Economy, Labour and Employment, Mikel Torres, has already made public that he will join the strike.