As has been the case for decades, with the arrival of summer and local festivals across the Basque Country, complaints resurface regarding posters in favor of ETA prisoners or harassment towards municipal police and Ertzaintza officers. These officers are reportedly targeted in txosnas for their profession, even when off-duty and in civilian clothes. In this context, the Basque Government's Security Minister, Bingen Zupiria, denounced on Friday the "threats and coercion" experienced by an Ertzaintza officer who was "expelled" from the txosna area in Hernani during the San Juan festivities. "What was his crime? Being an Ertzaina," the minister questioned, clarifying that the officer was dressed in "street clothes" and not in uniform.
Zupiria revealed this incident in response to a question from Vox, which once again raised concerns about the "loss of authority" of officers and the idea of a lack of control in security matters. During the control plenary session of the Basque Parliament, the minister expressed "full solidarity" with the Ertzaina and, in general terms, showed his support for "all citizens who are told they cannot be in certain places for being municipal police officers or Ertzainas." Furthermore, the minister linked these episodes to discourses that question "the legitimacy of institutions," stating that "democracy itself is being delegitimized in practice, leading to further harm and consequences."
This incident adds to similar events that have occurred in recent years in towns such as Beasain, Ondarroa, or Goierri. More recently, there has been a renewed tension between various youth collectives associated with the official and unofficial abertzale left, who question the legitimacy of the Ertzaintza's actions. In the case of Hernani, the minister's hometown, Zupiria himself has been the target of threatening graffiti on several occasions. On Friday, after Zupiria made public what happened to the Ertzaina in the txosnas, the town's mayor, Xabier Lertxundi (EH Bildu), posted a message on social media platform X, stating that they "do not accept" a person being attacked for their professional activity and expressing his "support" and "solidarity".
Additionally, the town hall published a declaration from the governing group asserting that it "does not admit discrimination against individuals" in festive spaces. The statement emphasized that festivals are "for the enjoyment of all citizens" and that the town hall aims for "safe and non-discriminatory spaces."
