Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, accompanied by the ministers of the Basque Government, presided over the ceremony. Pradales thanked Javier Hurtado "for all he has given" during his tenure as minister, in both the current and previous governments, highlighting his "political and institutional experience." He also emphasized the outgoing minister's "empathy and closeness" in his work, particularly with the network of professionals and entities dedicated to improving tourism, commerce, and consumption in Euskadi.
The Lehendakari welcomed Cristina González, encouraging her to continue the inherited work and "not to be afraid to make mistakes, as long as it is to improve people's lives." He stated, "I ask of you what I ask of all other ministers: I ask you to dare, to take risks."
Following her inauguration, the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Consumption emphasized her intention to continue strengthening collaboration. "The Basque Government, Provincial Councils, Regional Councils, and City Councils have rowed together, collaborated, and counted on the tourism and commerce sector. That is my way of working, and I will continue to maintain it: collaboration and the search for agreements," she said.
González highlighted the significance of tourism and commerce for their contribution to Euskadi's GDP (18%) and employment (around 25%, over 248,000 people employed). "We will continue to develop responsible, sustainable, competitive, and inclusive tourism," she added, and "commerce will have our support to achieve a qualitative and quantitative leap forward."
Finally, she recalled that the coming months "will also be intense in legislative activity" with the preparation and presentation of new laws on Tourism and Commercial Activity, and the regulatory development of the Consumer Statute.
Cristina González holds a degree in Political Science and Sociology, with a Diploma of Advanced Studies in the European Union and Eastern Europe. Before taking office as the new minister of the Basque Government, González served as First Deputy General and Provincial Minister for Employment Promotion, Commerce, Tourism, and Foral Administration in the Provincial Council of Álava since 2015. She also works as a professor at UNED and is a councilor in the Leza town council. She was a member of the PSE-EE for the Provincial Council between 2007 and 2011, spokesperson in the General Assemblies from 2011 to 2015, and a member of the Basque Parliament between 2009 and 2012.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the outgoing minister, Javier Hurtado, and members of the Bureau of the Basque Parliament, led by its president, Bakartxo Tejería. At the Palacio de Ajuria Enea, the Lehendakari read the decrees for Hurtado's dismissal and González's appointment.
After being appointed minister, Cristina González swore her oath of office on a copy of the Basque Statute of Autonomy. Subsequently, two family photographs were taken: the first on the steps of the Palacio de Ajuria Enea, and the second in front of the sapling of the Tree of Gernika located in the palace's front gardens.
