The PSN of Berriozar has reiterated this Thursday its "categorical and absolute condemnation" of the aggression suffered last Sunday by a group of military personnel who were watching the World Cup final on the terrace of a bar in the town, and has rejected the "political use" of what happened.
The socialist spokesperson in the municipality, Arantxa Ríos, has reminded in a statement that the PSN group in Berriozar expressed this condemnation "from the very first moment, being the first political formation in the municipality to do so publicly, because we understand that violence has no place in a democratic society, regardless of who the involved persons are."
According to Ríos, "since the facts became known, the PSN of Berriozar has been interested in the development of the investigation, maintains contact with both the Municipal Police and the Mayor's Office, and trusts that the inquiries will allow for the identification and bringing to justice of those responsible."
In this regard, the socialist group has deeply lamented "that there is an intention to convey the idea that the Socialist Party does not condemn what happened or that these events are used to fuel a political confrontation that does not contribute at all to clarifying the events or improving coexistence." The spokesperson has defended that "Berriozar is a municipality that has been working for years for coexistence, respect, and social cohesion. This collective effort, in which institutions, associations, entities, and neighbors participate, is part of the identity of the municipality and is reflected daily in the life of its streets. An event as serious as the one that occurred last Sunday cannot tarnish that work or serve to stigmatize Berriozar as a conflictive or intolerant town."
Arantxa Ríos has emphasized that "coexistence is built every day, from respect and dialogue, and precisely for that reason we must be especially responsible when such a serious event occurs." In her opinion, "condemning violence is a democratic obligation, but it is also an obligation to prevent it from being used to divide the citizenry or to damage the image of a town that is a reference for coexistence."
On the other hand, the PSN has described it as "worrying that, just a few days before the ordinary plenary session prior to the holidays -traditionally a session characterized by institutional consensus and a climate of understanding among municipal groups-, there are those who intend to break that spirit by presenting initiatives that only seek to fuel political confrontation around these events." In this regard, Ríos has emphasized that "the holidays of Berriozar are always a space for meeting, respect, and coexistence. The responsibility of all public representatives is to contribute to preserving that climate and not to turn an isolated episode, however serious it may be, into a tool for political confrontation."
Finally, the PSN has reiterated its "commitment to coexistence based on respect, diversity, the condemnation of any form of violence, and trust in the work of the Security Forces and Bodies to clarify the facts."