Introduction: The Triumph of EH Bildu and its Resonance
On April 21, EH Bildu became the beacon of hope for Europe’s progressive sovereignist movements. His victory, led by Pello Otxandiano, challenged the traditional rules of the Basque political scene, awakening the interest of analysts and observers alike.
Fundamental Differences between Basque Sovereignism and Catalan
Experts warn against the temptation to equate Basque and Catalan sovereignist movements. While they share Spanish national oppression, their electoral bases, institutions and political cultures differ significantly.
The Role of Language
Unlike the Basque Country, where identity can be articulated without language, in Catalonia, language is inseparable from national sentiment. Catalan language has penetrated deeply into society, while Basque has never been the central pillar of the Basque national project.
Financing and Autonomy
The Basque Country enjoys a unique system of financing and autonomy that allows it to manage itself and to finance of higher quality than that of Catalonia. This has facilitated that self-government is a value shared by the majority of the Basque electoral base.
Migration and Integration
Catalonia faces the challenge of integrating migrants into its national community, which creates tensions for its linguistic nationalism. On the other hand, the Basque Country has a more stable and local population, which allows for a national project focused on opposition to the State.
The Charm of EH Bildu
The success of EH Bildu is attributed to its ability to mobilize and build majorities. Unlike its Catalan counterparts, they have not been forced to make difficult decisions beyond independence, which has allowed them to maintain an image of stability.
The Future of Basque and Catalan Sovereignism
The experts believe that the Basque and Catalan sovereignist projects are in divergent trajectories. The Basque Country experiences an impulse while Catalonia faces a possible loss of its independence majority. EH Bildu has achieved political stability, while the Catalan conflict remains immature and hampered by the issue of prisoners.
Despite the differences, both sovereignist movements face common challenges. The integration of migrants, the quest for independence and the management of expectations of their electoral bases will be crucial evidence for their future success.
