The statements of the Basque Minister of the Interior and first vice president, Jeltzale Josu Erkoreka, about the latest unrest in Euskadi have heated up the Basque pre-campaign and the struggle between the PNV and EH Bildu, who had promised fair play. The head of Security has accused the nationalist coalition of “encouraging”, “from behind the scenes”, violent attitudes such as those seen in these altercations. From the nationalist formation, meanwhile, they have responded that "the problem is that it does not control the police sector."
This intersection of accusations has to do, fundamentally, with the disturbances that have taken place in three moments: during a police charge during the Tolosa carnivals, in which a minor was hit in the eye by a foam projectile; before the semi-final of the Copa del Rey football, in the run-up to the match between Athletic and Atlético de Madrid; and this Sunday, during a demonstration in memory of the five victims of the March 3 Massacre in Vitoria-Gasteiz, perpetrated by the Police in 1976. Before the Cup semi-final between Real Sociedad and Mallorca, however, they also There were some incidents, which were repeated this Tuesday during the Champions League match between the Txuri-Urdin club and PSG.
In all cases there have been clashes, of different nature, with the Ertzaintza, something that in Erkoreka's opinion "is not a coincidence" at a pre-electoral moment, since "someone organizes them."
"Who is interested in playing a double game and giving a civilized image in the shop window and in the back room to have this strategy that can erode coexistence and perhaps other political formations?" he asked.
EH Bildu has responded, alluding to an alleged desire to hide the tensions that exist within the Ertzaintza and also suggesting that the Basque Government “does not control the police sector.”
“Are you referring to EH Bildu? If so, let him say it, if he has evidence, let him say it and if not stop lying, because it is evident from my point of view that what the counselor is doing is spreading squid ink," Otegi indicated in an interview with Tele -7.
The general coordinator of EH Bildu has also indicated that his training has “no interest in there being incidents nor does it have anything to do with altercations.” “Erkoreka says that there are people interested in there being incidents. And we agree. The problem is who,” he added.
Likewise, he has demanded a debate “on the police model.” “We have the right to talk about the police model. We have every right. I know they get upset, but they're not going to put us down. This country has a problem with the police model. If you blow up the Tolosa festivities, you have problems in San Mamés, you have problems in Anoeta... you have to talk about the police model”; he has concluded.
Finally, the candidate for lehendakari of the PNV, Imanol Pradales, has also spoken out about this controversy and has indicated that he has "neither data nor sources" to evaluate the statements of the Security Councilor, Josu Erkoreka, although he has asked "why "The focus is always placed" on the actions of the Ertzaintza in these types of situations and not "on those who cause the altercations."
