The Basque campaign and the action of the extreme right
The National Court has started an investigation related to Arnaldo Otegi, leader of EH Bildu, after an extreme right-wing entity has linked him to a murder in 1980. This action is inserted in the framework of the Basque electoral campaign and it responds to a recurrent strategy of the extreme right to turn to the courts at key moments such as elections.
Proceedings of the National Court and past implications
The National Court has opened proceedings and has requested the Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether it is necessary to initiate an investigation regarding this accusation. Although the complaint has not yet been accepted for processing, this action responds to a series of previous complaints filed by the association Dignidad y Justicia against Otegi, some of which are related to events that occurred decades ago and for which no been judged
New information and implications with ETA
According to information compiled by the Civil Guard, Otegi is linked to the murder of a Michelin manager in 1980. It is hypothesized that information extracted from a kidnapping was transferred to ETA, which later perpetrated the murder This accusation is added to other cases linked to ETA that are being investigated by the National Court.
Reactions and political positions
In the framework of the electoral campaign, the Abertzale candidate Pello Otxandiano has apologized for some previous statements and has avoided calling ETA a ‘terrorist’. EH Bildu, the party to which Otegi belongs, has avoided entering the semantic field and has emphasized its will to continue the path of reconciliation. Likewise, Otxandiano has expressed his confidence in EH Bildu’s ability to contribute to reconciliation.
Positions against the electoral interest
Otxandiano has urged to remove the issue from the media spotlight and has denounced the instrumentalization of ETA in relevant political moments. In addition, it has revealed the communication of a non-nationalist political representative who warned them of the use of ETA in the campaign. This situation has generated reactions from several parties, including the PNB, which has reiterated its condemnation of ETA and criticized the electoral use of this issue.
