The municipal groups of EHBildu and EAJ presented and approved by an absolute majority in Thursday's plenary session a motion to commemorate two significant historical anniversaries: the 150th anniversary of the abolition of the fueros and the half-century of the Movement of Mayors.
The motion highlights that the year 2026 holds particular importance for Euskal Herria, marking, among other milestones, the 150th anniversary of the abolition of the fueros (July 21, 1876) and the 50th anniversary of the Movement of Mayors (which convened in Bergara in 1976). The PSE voted against it, stating that the motion did not represent all of Basque society.
The six-point text affirms that the Bergara Town Council aligns itself with the commemoration of both anniversaries and recognizes their historical, political, and institutional significance. Furthermore, the motion proclaims that Euskal Herria is a nation with its own identity and character, and that its citizens have the right to freely and democratically decide their political future.
The text emphasizes the necessity of taking new steps towards the integration of fueros and full sovereignty, updating the historical rights and self-governance of the territories of Euskal Herria to adapt them to current needs. It also commits to reinforcing the decisive role of municipalities in the democratic construction of Euskal Herria.
The motion aligns with the objectives of the political-institutional event scheduled for next July 19 in Bergara, aimed at remembering the Movement of Mayors, acknowledging the contribution of the 1976 municipal representatives, and renewing the commitment to the historical rights of Euskal Herria.
It recalls that the abolition of the fueros in 1876 marked the end of the foral regime in Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa. A century later, in 1976, amidst the end of Francoism, municipal representatives from Euskal Herria gathered in Bergara to form the Movement of Mayors, which utilized the centenary of the abolition of the fueros to advocate for Euskal Herria's national identity, historical rights, and desire for self-governance.
According to the motion, the spirit of that 1976 declaration remains highly relevant today, and the political and institutional role of municipalities has been fundamental. Municipal institutions continue to be the closest expression of citizens' democratic will.
Finally, the motion details the decisions adopted by the Bergara Town Council: firstly, to commemorate both anniversaries and recognize their importance; secondly, to advocate for the historical rights and sovereignty of the territories; and thirdly, to commit to strengthening the role of municipalities and facing future challenges.
