The two main political forces in the Basque Country, the PNV and EH Bildu, will be without their key figures in the upcoming 2024 regional elections, which are the most uncertain in recent years and do not yet have a set date. The PNV has replaced Iñigo Urkullu, who has been undefeated in the three times he has run for office, with Imanol Pradales as their candidate for lehendakari. Otegi, the leader of the independence coalition EH Bildu, is expected to inform the party’s political leadership on Monday whether he wants to run as the lead candidate or focus exclusively on leading the party.
Without Urkullu or Otegi on the electoral posters, Basque politics will undergo a period of total renewal. The current legislature, expiring in July 2024, has prompted all parties to reposition themselves on the regional stage. Only Amaia Martínez of Vox is confirmed to be running again, with other parties like Podemos, the Socialists and the PP opting for new candidates. The PSE-EE and the PP seek to bring about change with their new regional leaders, Eneko Andueza and Javier de Andrés, respectively.
The PNV and EH Bildu are entering the elections with closely matched options, as demonstrated in the recent general elections where there was only a 1,000 vote difference between them. The PNV is showing signs of wear and tear while EH Bildu is gaining popularity. Both parties have been closely monitoring each other’s movements in recent months in order to make strategic decisions for the upcoming elections. The selection of Imanol Pradales as the PNV candidate for lehendakari was announced ahead of the party’s internal processes, with Urkullu offering his support to Pradales in his new role.
EH Bildu, on the other hand, is expected to see a change in leadership with Otegi likely stepping down as the lead candidate but remaining involved in the party to drive a national project beyond the Basque provinces. The party’s political leadership is awaiting Otegi’s decision on Monday and is considering alternative candidates like Nerea Kortajarena or Oihana Etxebarrieta. The timing of the elections in the Basque Country and Galicia is crucial, with a mandatory deadline of July 12, 2024, for their completion as per regulations. President Alfonso Rueda of Galicia has suggested the possibility of early elections for the Xunta, potentially diverging from the Basque electoral calendar for the first time in over a decade.
The 2024 electoral calendar also includes European elections set for June 9, prompting discussions about the potential for the Basque and Galician elections to be held simultaneously. However, no official dates have been announced by the respective regional presidents. The upcoming elections in both regions are seen as critical for the political landscape, with parties making strategic decisions on leadership and candidates to secure their position in the changing political environment.
