This Friday an event of great symbolism is celebrated in the Basque town of Guernica. The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeierwill participate in a tribute to the victims of the 1937 bombing alongside the King Philip VI and the Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales. Although the German State broke with the Nazi regime some time ago and has already apologized for this war crime, it is an act of compensation to the victims and in which the subsidiary responsibility of the Germans is recognized. It will be a before and after for many.
However, the tribute runs the risk of being marred by violence. Various organizations from the nationalist world are organizing to participate in protests against the event due to the presence of the King. EH Bildu, for example, has organized a rally this Friday at 1:00 p.m. However, the authorities are not concerned about the party of Arnaldo Otegibut for the Gatze Sozialist Coordinator (GKS).
The GKS is a youth movement split from the traditional nationalist left, from the youth of parties like Bildu or Sortu, because they consider that institutionalization has distanced them from their true objectives. That is to say, they are much more radical and pride themselves on acting on the margins. This is the same movement that is behind violent actions such as the demonstrations that took place on October 30 in Pamplona, in which a journalist was attacked, or on October 12 in Vitoria, in which a Falange rally ended with 20 ertzainas injured and 19 young people detained. Its actions are reminiscent of the old “kale borroka” and offer images that were already considered amortized.
Taking advantage of the presence of Philip VI In Guernica, the GKS has called its militants at 10:00 in the morning and the local authorities are truly worried about the outcome that may occur. The episodes of previous tension have demonstrated their ability to attract people and the difficulty that the different police forces have had in stopping outbreaks of violence.
Bildu will also participate in different protests against the King, although the authorities believe that they will be legitimate protests and that they should not pose a problem for security. In fact, one was already held yesterday and there were no major incidents and the party did attend last Wednesday the joint session held by the Congress of Deputies and the Senate in which the German president gave a speech.
The formation, however, considers that the presence of Felipe VI is “hurtful” because his father, Juan Carlos Iwas named Francisco Franco’s successor and, therefore, they consider that the Royal House also has to apologize for the bombing, since the regime allowed it. In a statement sent to the press, the nationalist group stressed that “the town of Guernica was bombed in 1937 by the German Condor Legion, in connivance with the Franco regime and with the approval of Francisco Francothe dictator who died 50 years ago in his bed.” “The wounds of that bombing – which had as its ultimate objective the humiliation of the Basque people and attacking its symbolic heart – remain open,” they added.
The PNV also sometimes has strained relations with the Royal House, but usually prioritizes institutionality and Pradales will attend representing the Basque Government and will also go Aitor Esteban as president of the EBB, the leadership of the PNV. Also present will be the spokesperson in the Basque Parliament, Joseba Diezand the president of the Human Rights commission of said Parliament, Xabier Barandiaran.
Those who will not attend this Friday’s event will be the members of Pedro Sánchez’s Government. The Executive has decided to dilute its presence and will only be represented by the Government delegate, Marisol Garmendiaand the Secretary of State of the European Union, Fernando Mariano Sampedro. In past events, the Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, had attended other tributes in Guernica and the Minister of Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, is also usually frequent at this type of events. Now, however, they will not attend in any way, even though there will be two heads of state present at the meeting.