Rueda claims that "it is not up for discussion" that Euskadi has its own regime, but he rejects "bilateral agreements at the expense of others."
The Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, and the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will meet next June in a new Bilateral Commission meeting to address "issues of common interest for Euskadi and the State," as announced by the Basque Government President.
Pradales has called for the inclusion of other topics of interest to the Basque Country in the Conference of Presidents and has stated that "to the extent that there are such topics," his Government will "defend Basque interests."
On the other hand, the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, who criticized the sudden convening of the Conference of Presidents, stated that it is "not up for discussion" that Euskadi has its own regime, but he rejects "bilateral agreements at the expense of others."
During his participation, alongside the President of the Xunta de Galicia, in the ‘Agenda Atlántica Forum,’ organized this Thursday by El Correo and La Voz de Galicia at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Lehendakari stated that the Basque Government’s desire for the upcoming Conference of Presidents is to "propose some topics beyond" those included in the agenda conveyed by the central Government.
Therefore, he stated that his Government will suggest that some "relevant issue for Euskadi" be included on the agenda and, "to the extent that there are such topics," his Government will be "defending Basque interests, as it has done so far."
Pradales did not disclose which issues he wishes to incorporate into the established topics for the Conference, "out of institutional respect," given the subcommittee scheduled for this month where it is "time to propose."
Regarding the issue of financing to be addressed at the meeting of regional leaders, he defended Euskadi’s bilaterality, "incorporated into the country’s political culture and DNA," which "is not only related to the Economic Agreement."
"We have always maintained that spirit of bilaterality, and in fact, we give a lot of importance to bilateral commissions," he stated. At this point, he announced that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and himself will meet in June in a new Bilateral Commission to address "issues of common interest for Euskadi and the State."
RUEDA
On his part, the President of the Xunta de Galicia stated that Euskadi already has "the bilaterality" that "has been in place for a very long time, it has its own regime, and it is not up for discussion." However, he warned that he does not want the current ‘status quo’ to be "broken." "There is a regime, there is an Agreement, both in Euskadi and Navarra, and we do not enter into that discussion," he said.
However, he warned that bilaterality with any other Autonomous Community "breaks the solidarity of the system" established in the Constitution. "The Constitution already had this regime, therefore, nothing to discuss now. From there, discuss everything," he pointed out.
On this note, he recalled that the BNG, the second political force in Galicia, is calling for an Agreement system. "Well, it seems like nonsense in our circumstances. Independent economic experts say that this would result in a decrease in revenue of 2,000 million euros, at least," he noted.
Rueda defended that the current system "ensures a distribution with special regimes, which is what must continue to be maintained." "Therefore, it is not a matter of confrontation, what is here is not up for discussion. What is up for discussion is that others pretend to have bilateral agreements at the expense of others," he criticized.
He expressed his desire to "have many more opportunities for bilateral agreements" than those currently given to Galicia, which are practically none. "Another thing is that there are issues in which bilaterality implies the breakdown of balance, solidarity, and basic equality; they are very specific issues, the main one being financing," he noted.
Specifically, regarding the upcoming Conference of Presidents, he stated that the previous one "served absolutely no purpose," it was "a series of monologues," and he did not perceive "any willingness for it to serve a purpose." Facing the upcoming call, received "suddenly," he insisted that it was made "so that we would not talk about the issues being discussed yesterday" and those "that will continue to be discussed, no matter how many conferences are called."
The President of Galicia hoped that these meetings would be "truly useful," and although he acknowledged that the topics raised "are good," he reiterated his conviction that "it was not intended for that."
On the other hand, Alfonso Rueda expressed his conviction that collaboration is possible and necessary between communities and political parties of different colors. "I rebel against a Spain where we cannot reach agreements from the outset and where walls are raised. On the contrary, it must be perfectly possible," he defended.
He also mentioned his relationship with the Spanish Government, jokingly stating that "the ministers who come to Galicia do not notify me." "In general, I have to say that the attention could be much better," he said.
EUSKADI
Meanwhile, Imanol Pradales stated that his Government has maintained, to date, "a fluent relationship with the Spanish Government" and also "with the different ministries." "I believe that the Lehendakari’s role is to defend the interests of Euskadi wherever those interests are at stake. Whether in Madrid, Brussels, or wherever it may be," he pointed out.
For this reason, he affirmed that he is "very clear" that "whoever is in the Moncloa Palace," he will seek "a fluent relationship with whoever is leading the Spanish Government." Although he stated that both Governments do not "agree on everything" and also have "different points of view," he stated that his "position is one of fluidity and dialogue."
Pradales stated that he agrees with Alfonso Rueda that "confrontation leads nowhere" and that "barriers and walls must be torn down" in order to try to "find points of convergence through dialogue and negotiation."
Furthermore, he expressed his conviction that in what they call the peripheries, there is a capacity to "talk and agree," while "the Madrid grinder drains that moderation" and generates "an unbreathable political climate, leading to tension and extremes." "I believe that is bad, it should not be like that, but that is what happens," he indicated.
In his opinion, "what is desirable" would be to "return to another type of politics" and "not fall into the games of populism." "The political climate in Euskadi, and I believe also in Galicia, is different, and we must take advantage of this different climate to build bridges and not to establish trenches," he concluded.