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Aburto Announces Departure as Bilbao Mayor: "PNV Believes Bilbao Needs New Leadership"

The mayor, in office since 2015, will conclude his term, paving the way for generational change within the party.

Close-up image of a microphone on a podium with blurred figures in the background.
IA

Close-up image of a microphone on a podium with blurred figures in the background.

Juan Mari Aburto, the mayor of Bilbao since 2015, has announced he will not seek re-election in the upcoming 2027 municipal elections, stating that the PNV believes the city "needs new leadership".

Juan Mari Aburto, who has served as the mayor of Bilbao since 2015, has announced his decision not to run for re-election in the 2027 municipal elections. Speaking at a press conference at Sabin Etxea, the headquarters of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Aburto stated that the party has determined the Biscayan capital "needs new leadership for the coming times," a decision he has been privy to and pledged his "collaboration" with.
The mayor expressed his gratitude to the party members and municipal officials who supported him, recalling that when Itxaso Atutxa first proposed him as a candidate, he did not ask "why," and committed to doing the same now, simply "saying thank you."
The decision is attributed to a combination of biological and political factors. If Aburto were to lead the PNV list for a fourth time in 2027, he would be 70 years old by the end of the term. The PNV is currently undergoing a rejuvenation process for its leadership to counter the rise of EH Bildu.
Aburto will complete his current term, which ends in May 2027. Iñigo Ansola, president of the Bizkai Buru Batzar (the PNV's Biscay executive), thanked Aburto for his "constant effort and innate generosity," highlighting his "commitment to people, closeness, attention, interest, complicity, and generosity."
Aburto's departure follows a similar pattern to that of other nationalist mayors, such as Eneko Goia in San Sebastián, who stepped down mid-term last October to make way for Jon Insausti, a move also seen as signaling the "end of an era."
In the 2023 elections, the PNV lost 25% of its votes in Bilbao compared to 2019, securing twelve council seats. EH Bildu was the second-largest party with six seats. The PSE-EE holds five seats, and the combined strength of the PNV and socialists gives them an absolute majority of fifteen councilors, ensuring the stability of the municipal government.
The PNV is also looking ahead to the 2028 regional elections, aiming to strengthen its position against EH Bildu. Maintaining strong, charismatic leadership in Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, is considered crucial for this objective.
Aburto's health has been a factor, having undergone several surgeries, including three hip operations and one for a duodenal tumor. Despite these challenges, he has consistently expressed his readiness and strength to continue in his role.
Upon completing his current term, Aburto will have served twelve years, making him the third-longest-serving mayor in Bilbao's democratic history, surpassed only by Iñaki Azkuna, who governed for nearly fifteen years (1999-2014).

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