The mayor of Bilbao, Juan María Aburto (PNV), has expressed his desire that "unanimously, everyone" speaks out against the disturbances recorded this past Monday in the city. The mayor has called for a Board of Spokespersons this Tuesday and has emphasized that he trusts these events will not be used in a partisan way to "throw it in the face of the political opponent."
In an interview on TVE, reported by Europa Press, Aburto referred to the incidents that occurred in Bilbao during the protests for the planned visit of Vito Quiles to the Biscayan capital, an event that was ultimately canceled.
The mayor explained that this Tuesday he has called a Board of Spokespersons and reiterated that it would be reasonable for "unanimously everyone to be against what happened." At the same time, he warned of the "risks" that these events could be "politically used to throw it in the face of the political opponent."
"I believe that it is the time of politics, that it is the time of broad-mindedness, that it is the time of collaboration, it is not the time of confrontation. It is the moment to truly value politics, that politics that serves so that people who think differently can live together," he pointed out, appealing to the responsibility of all parties.
In direct relation to the disturbances, Aburto explained that in the area there was a group "important of very young people," many of them presumably prepared to receive Vito Quiles, although he emphasized that a significant part "does not need any kind of provocation and they rely on themselves to become the provocateurs and those who in some way make life impossible for the citizens of Bilbao by sowing violence and terror in the streets of Bilbao."
The Bilbao mayor has opted for caution when pointing out possible specific responsible parties for the disturbances and has asked to wait for the Ertzaintza's investigation to clarify the facts. However, he mentioned that some information had been known about conversations in the metro in which it was said: "we are going to go to Deusto, we are going to grab some stones and we are going to confront the police."
Aburto also recounted that during the incidents there were "shouts that took us back to the times of lead in the streets of Bilbao" and described the presence of a "mix of types of subjects." Nevertheless, he insisted that he wants to be "very cautious" until he has "concrete data."
According to what has been detailed, the most damaged area was Avenida Lehendakari Agirre, a street "recently repaired," where the barricades raised by the rioters have left the road "in poor condition." In addition, it has indicated that "stores were looted" and damages were caused to private vehicles.
After showing his solidarity with the affected people, he lamented that the citizens had to endure "an absolutely horrifying evening." Although the presence of that "provocateur and rioter" in reference to Quiles did not ultimately occur, he emphasized that there were groups that "decided to become the true protagonists and provocateurs, always seeking confrontation with the Ertzaintza." "But to seek that confrontation with the Ertzaintza, they are capable of destroying urban furniture, cars, and stores."
When asked about possible parallels with the disturbances experienced in Barcelona or France, Aburto admitted that there may be "some similarity in some of the groups," although he insisted that it is a "simple intuition," so he preferred not to speak "with certainty."
The mayor has assured that, for the moment, he has no knowledge of new calls for protests through social networks. He has reiterated his commitment to making Bilbao "a city of values" and has emphasized that "to build a strong society, it is necessary to do so on solid values."
In this regard, he has highlighted the relevance of what "each one experiences in their family environments, in their friends' environments" and has defended that democratic values, human rights values, and values related to respect and tolerance "are values that must be worked on day by day."