"He who divides the people is not the one who asks the question but the one who prevents the question from being asked"
The Lehendakari declares that coexistence between peoples is based "on the freedom to associate and not on an imposition"
The Lehendakari declares that coexistence between peoples is based "on the freedom to associate and not on an imposition"
The Lehendakari, Juan José Ibarretxe, stated that coexistence projects between equals are based "on the freedom to associate and not on imposition" and insisted that popular consultations, as a formula for the direct participation of our citizens, strengthens democracy. "He who divides the people is not the one who asks the question but the one who prevents the question from being asked, he said.
During his speech to the Basque Parliament, meeting in plenary session, in which he defended the Plebiscite White Paper passed by the Government, the Lehendakari criticised the attitude of leading members of the Socialist Party who have threatened to stop the Plebiscite from going ahead "at any price" and asked "what kind of democracy forbids its citizens from being consulted".
In reference to the controversy about the judicial bases of such a consultation, the Lehendakari defended the legality of the White Paper presented by the tripartite government, as it is a non binding Plebiscite and not a referendum, and recalled that "similar consultations are allowed in other Statutes of Autonomy and do not require any modification of the Constitution".
During his speech, the Lehendakari once again insisted that Basque society is tired of the political stalemate and "fed up with the violence of ETA" and, for this reason, "has the right to make its voice heard and demand dialogue and a solution".
In this sense, he indicated that the aim of the two questions posed in the consultation is to seek the ratification by society of an ethical commitment against violence, in similar terms to those proposed in the Ajuria Enea Agreement and in the House of Deputies in May 2005, and that all parties reach a democratic agreement on the right to decide, and that any decision be respected by the State, "unlike what has happened up to now". "We must be allowed to decide to live together, because if there is no freedom to decide, coexistence is not free, it is imposed", he insisted.
During another moment in his speech, Ibarretxe recalled the President of the Spanish government, who has refused to speak and negotiate with him the same questions that he was willing to reach an agreement on with Batasuna and ETA during the Loyola peace process.
Finally, the Lehendakari insisted once again that "irrespective of today's debate", and whatever happens on October 25, "the door for the Basque People to decide their future is open" and expressed his conviction that the right to decide of the Basque People "is a road with no return".
