The Laudio Town Council held an extensive Plenary Session last Monday, which lasted five hours and addressed a total of 38 points. The main topic concerned expediente for modifying municipal budget credits, through which various investment proposals were presented. Some of these initiatives were approved, while others did not secure majority support.
As reported by the Council itself, among the approved projects are the subsidy for the Lautxirrinka group, a match to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Handball Club, equipment for the Haurreskola (children's school), supplies for the Gazteleku (youth center), a budget allocation for the renovation of the Landaluze 27 premises, the third access to Arraño, the renewal of the municipal telecommunications system, the Berrikusi application, and resources for promoting local commerce.
On the other hand, projects that did not receive sufficient support included asphalt works, a health plan, a study for creating a rural school at the Santa Ana farmhouse, a budget item to boost the farmers' market, enclosure and new information panels for Ermualde, a budget item to improve the working conditions of municipal guards, the petanque court in Ugarte, a study on the social possibilities of the old health center building, and the budget item for asbestos removal in the town.
The three opposition groups, EAJ, PSE-EE, and Omnia, made it clear from the outset that they would not vote for all projects and expressed their disagreement with the manner in which they were presented. The PSE-EE proposed that the most appropriate course of action would be to negotiate all investments within a comprehensive budget project, emphasizing that credit modification should not become a "common instrument" for approving investments.
Omnia expressed a much more critical stance towards the municipal government, stating that the time for giving "blank checks" had ended. They pointed out that many of the investments were not clearly defined, and therefore, there were no guarantees that they would be carried out or developed properly.
The PNV also used similar arguments. The jeltzale party issued a statement criticizing the events of the plenary session, alleging that EH Bildu members used a "rude tone and disqualifications," turning the council meeting into a "confrontation exercise" to "hide a lack of management." According to the PNV, the session was driven by "strategies to build a political narrative," and they highlighted their "responsible stance" in response, "analyzing each proposal from the perspective of the municipality's general interest, rather than political dispute."
PNV members argued during the session that several budget items approved last year had not yet been executed. In their statement, they presented a more detailed calculation, claiming that approximately 500,000 euros from the approved budget modifications were already included in last year's economic plan, but the governing team "was unable" to implement them. "What is most concerning is not just bringing it back to the Plenary Session; we are talking about investments that should already be completed. It is another example of the management incapacity that characterizes this mandate," warned councilor Ander Añibarro.
Members of EH Bildu also appeared critical of the other groups' attitudes during the session. Mayor Ainize Gastaka emphasized that it is the responsibility of all councilors to move budgets forward and accused the opposition groups of blocking investments. The PNV, for its part, pointed out that the Municipal Government has the option to advance some investments through mayoral decrees, instead of "constantly looking for culprits."
The debate on Monday's plenary session was not limited to political groups. Residents involved in the participatory process for the Landaluze 27 premises also took the floor, engaging in discussions primarily with Omnia after the party suggested they were being instrumentalized by the municipal government. Omnia had voted against that project, but it moved forward with the abstention of the PNV and PSE-EE.
Reflecting on the plenary session, the municipal government team stated that they consider all the proposals left on the table to be "strategic" and will continue "working" to "materialize them in the future." Following the approval of credit modifications, the points discussed in the final part of the session achieved broader consensus. The V Plan for Equality of Women and Men of Laudio was approved, as was a motion on climate shelters presented by Omnia. Additionally, the municipal government presented a motion on the renewable energy levy, which also received majority support. Finally, the PNV and EH Bildu presented a joint motion on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Abolition of the Fueros and the 50th anniversary of the Movement of Mayors, which also passed.
