Sumar is running in the elections to the Basque Parliament on April 21 alongside Ezker Anitza-IU, Equo-Berdeak and Més Euskadi, after it was concluded at the beginning of February that there would be no electoral alliance with Podemos. The candidate for lehendakari is Alba García, a 36-year-old psychologist from Bilbao, who these days is eager to make herself known and explain the proposals of her training. The polls do not agree on how the struggle for the same electorate with the purple formation will be settled, so that Sumar moves between the desire to consolidate this space in the Basque Country and the uncertainty in the face of a compromised scenario, since they could stay out of the Chamber.
From Podemos, Sumar is blamed for the lack of an alliance. What is your version?
I think we have already given all the explanations on this subject. In any case, it must be said that in politics, as in life, any relationship, any agreement, is based on trust. And we believe that this trust could not be guaranteed. There were precedents that did not support it: it was seen in Galicia or when some deputies went to the Mixed Group. In any case, it should be emphasized that Sumar is already present in a coalition, of four formations, and with a solid project.
How does your program differ from that of Podemos?
I'm not going to compare one program to another. My task is to explain to people what Sumar is and what our project for Euskadi is, which aims to restore people's confidence in politics because there is disaffection. The population in Euskadi is also very mature politically and it is very clear when they go to the polls. We have a vice president and five ministries, and I think they know us. I don't go into whether we take one measure and we can another. We want to explain to people what our measures are, which have to do with receiving a decent wage, paying a reasonable price for rent, leaving work at a reasonable time, that migrants have the same rights as I have a blanca, labor rights, quality public services or environmentalism.
The price of housing is being one of the themes of the campaign. What measures do they propose?
Housing is a subjective right in Euskadi that is not being fulfilled, and it cannot be that people leave their money on rent. The price of rent needs to be regulated urgently, and it is something that can already be done, because there is a Basque Housing law, which the PNB and the PSE have not touched. In addition, it is necessary to mobilize empty housing and, of course, make more subsidized housing. With these three measures alone, we would respond to 32,000 households, and in Euskadi there are 65,000 people registered with Etxebide (the Basque Housing Service). For the PNB and the PSE, housing is a market good, and all the measures they put in place are to facilitate the purchase or make life easier for the vulture funds. Today it is impossible to live, to be emancipated and to have a life project.
The situation of Osakidetza, the Basque Health Service, is another topic for April 21. What measures do they propose?
We have a rather borderline situation, and those responsible are the PNB and the PSE, which have been governing for 40 years. We have a drama in primary care, with scandalous ratios, outpatient centers that provide care without a doctor and absolutely privatized services. And it's not just about the tests: 98% of abortions are done in private clinics. There has been deliberate privatization to reduce costs, and this has had an impact on the quality of service. We also have a third of the temporary staff and workers in unworthy conditions. We propose, first of all, to strengthen and speed up recruitment and improve the working conditions of health and non-health personnel. It is a priority to strengthen primary care in family medicine, the gateway to the entire system. Secondly, we cannot allow any Continuing Care Point to close.
The spokesman for Sumar in Euskadi, Andeka Larrea, wrote an essay on the "Basque" identity and its secretary general, Lander Martínez, claims this space. What does this concept mean politically?
Those of us who call ourselves Basques are rooted in a long-standing tradition in Euskal Herria and recognize that it is a nation, a nation that has been and continues to be inclusive. In the political field, we have a federal and plurinational conception. And we are betting on a new social pact, a new statute. However, for me there is a but, and that is: what do I do with these skills? Do we want more self-government? Yes, but to defend quality public services, to exercise these powers in matters such as housing...
The space of the confederal left came to win some generals in Euskadi, with Podem. Now the polls indicate that both Sumar and Podemos could be left out of the Basque Parliament. How much responsibility do they have in this disaffection you mentioned earlier?
It would seem unfair to me to say that the fault of the political disaffection that exists lies with the left. There are many macro elements to consider, and there are also political cycles; eight years ago we were at a time when the left mobilized.
But do they self-criticize?
Self-criticism is always necessary. Also, as someone who has been in disaffection I can understand. People are fed up with mud; he wants us to fix his life, to lower the rents... But we have to be optimistic and see that the confederal Basque left is a solid space, with a path in this country, and that it is key to forming a government of progress in Euskadi
