EH Bildu will present a strategy for a new industrial and business model

Euskaraz irakurri: Political industry errotik aldatzeko proposes aurkeztuko du EH Bilduk

EH Bildu proposes to transform current industrial policy beyond the inertia of the past. The coalition sees the Basque economy in a fragile situation, where uprooting, the presence of foreign funds and the disappearance of strategic companies are gaining momentum. Faced with this scenario, he proposes a step-by-step plan with six lines of action under the title Entrepreneurial Industrial Policyand puts special emphasis on the section called Basque business model. Encouraging employee participation in companies – both in management and capital – and promoting corporate entities committed to the challenges of society are two of the keys to the new paradigm established by EH Bildu. The plan will be presented next Tuesday, March 28, at the Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao to socio-economic and political agents from all over the Basque Country.

The Sovereignist Coalition understands that there is “an historic battle going on worldwide between two economic directions”: the neoliberal approach against a model of transformation of the socially just productive system capable of meeting social challenges. Based on this analysis, the Coalition Program Director, Otxandian hair, explains that they are clearly committed to the second option and qualifies what are the guidelines to be followed by public institutions. Among other things, it is proposed to create a new broad corporate structure without vetoes. “There is a corporate reality in this country,” he says, “that feels unrepresented by Confebasque hegemonic discourse.”

On the other hand, the model designed by EH Bildu would also require legislative changes to ensure employee participation in the entities. However, Otxandiano points out that it would be enough to adapt and change certain rules: “There are already formulas.” In this context, the point that refers to the “social responsibility” of companies is striking. “There is an entrenched corporate social responsibility, fundamentally medium and small, that has a different model and can be aligned with a more committed industrial policy,” he emphasizes.

Likewise, in the field of taxation, it is trying to leave behind “the Ayuso model that Confebask and the Basque government have as a reference” to implement “a more democratic and fair system”. According to Otxandiano, the consequences of the strategy implemented so far are evident: “uprooting, loss of strategic companies and foreign investment funds.” “What we are proposing is not new. In this country, there has always been a social economy, coupled with a business model, that public institutions have not taken into account. Adapting this social industry to changing times is what we want,” he adds.

Among the measures proposed is the reduction of the working day to 32 hours, a debate, says the program director, that “is already on the table” and that “must go along with the debate on care”. In addition to reconciliation, a fairer distribution of wealth and employment would be the axes.

Finally, EH Bildu believes that all these actions should be promoted and coordinated from public institutions through a shared strategy with public and private actors.

The details of the plan will be presented next Tuesday by Otxandiano and the parliamentarian and EH Bildu candidate for the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, Iker Casanova, after a short opening speech to be delivered by the general coordinator of the coalition, Arnaldo Otegi. The event can be followed live on EH Bildu’s YouTube channel.