The debate about ETA violence erupts in the latter part of the campaign

The different positions regarding ETA’s violence have emerged in force five days before the 21A elections, shaking up an election campaign that went almost unnoticed, creating divisions between the PSE-EE and EH Bildu and a debate was opened in which they also intervened Spain, the Lehendakari and the victims of ETA.

The origins of the controversy are a few words from the EH Bildu candidate: Otxandiano hairWhen asked in an interview on the SER whether he considers ETA a terrorist group, he replied that it was an “armed group” and that it depends on the “different points of view” whether to consider it terrorist or not.

In this context, associations of victims of terrorism such as Covite, the Fernando Buesa Foundation and the AVT have sued Otxandiano.

So, covid He stated that the candidate’s words “are proof that the fascination with ETA remains a fundamental part of EH Bildu’s political project.”

Also the Fernando Buesa Foundation has emphasized that ETA was a terrorist group that “murdered, injured, kidnapped, extorted and threatened thousands of civilians”.

And the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT) has indicated that it cannot be ‘allowed’ and they regret that it is the ‘same old speech’ even though they are ‘wearing shirts now’.

He Government of Spain He has also filed suit against Otxandiano. For example, the minister’s spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, has stated that it is “cowardly” and “absolute contempt” for the victims and for Basque and Spanish society if they do not recognize that ETA is a terrorist group.

“It is a denial that is incompatible with the history of our country and our democracy,” he added.

Similarly, the lehendakari, Inigo Urkulluhas stated that “it is imperative that EH Bildu condemns once and for all what ETA was”, which was “a terrorist organization” and “there is nothing more to say about it.”

“I wonder if this is really the example of a change in the cycle that EH Bildu is promoting,” asked the head of the Basque executive. “We must take into account the casualties caused by ETA, the 853 fatalities, the thousands of people injured, kidnapped, extorted and blackmailed,” he noted.

Although without expressly referring to the commotion caused by Otxandiano’s words, the EH Bildu candidate for Álava Mikel Otero has considered that there are political parties that “the closer the possibility of change is” to the head of the Basque government after this Sunday’s elections, “the more the ground is muddied.”