A dual exhibition commemorating the Fifth Centenary of Bizkaia's New Charter was presented this Tuesday at the Foral Library. This legal text, approved in 1526, is considered one of the foundations of the territory's self-government. During the presentation, a historical quote from Eustaquio Delmas, editor of the New Charter, was recalled, stating that this monument should be possessed by every Bizkaian and taught from the first days of life.
The initiative, promoted by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the General Assemblies, features two formats. On one hand, the Foral Library hosts a more scientific exhibition until the end of August, aimed at a specialized audience, displaying the original 1526 volume alongside other editions. On the other hand, on Gran Vía, next to the Foral Palace, a traveling exhibition brings this content to the street in a more visual and accessible format, designed for the general public, which will tour various municipalities in the coming months.
“"Remembering the past only makes sense when we are capable of understanding it and making it understandable for society as a whole."
The main objective is to bring the content and validity of this legal source closer to citizens, as it continues to be reflected in the institutional and social organization of the territory five centuries later. The general deputy, Elixabete Etxanobe, emphasized the importance of “bringing these texts, ideas, and legacy closer to the citizenry,” adding that current society can still recognize itself in its defense of self-government, its commitment to community coexistence, and its protection of human dignity.
For her part, the president of the General Assemblies, Ana Otadui, highlighted the current value of these principles. She stated that “the Tree of Gernika remains today a living expression of these values: democracy, freedom, equality, identity, and pact.” The exhibition's curator, Imanol Merino, summarized the objective in one idea: that the Charter be “read, understood, and, to some extent, possessed” by contemporary society, within the cultural proposal framed by the motto Izan zirelako gara.
The exhibition reviews the approval of the New Charter in 1526 under the Tree of Gernika and its confirmation a year later by Charles I, as well as some of its most relevant elements, such as universal hidalguía, guarantees against arbitrary arrests, and the foral pass. All this is presented to the public in ten informative panels. After its stop in Bilbao, the exhibition will move to Balmaseda, Bermeo, Portugalete, and Galdakao, as part of the Fifth Centenary program, which will also include a prominent institutional event on May 18 in Gernika with the presence of lehendakari Imanol Pradales.
