The Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, shared his reflections on Euskadi's challenges and priorities at the eleventh edition of the Uzturre Forum, held in Tolosa. Amidst a complex and uncertain international and state context, Pradales addressed the main challenges facing Euskadi and Basque society.
The Lehendakari highlighted the figure of Jesús Insausti, Uzturre, as an example of commitment to Euskadi, its people, freedom, and democracy. He recalled Uzturre's career as a Basque language advocate, translator, journalist, trade unionist, and political leader, emphasizing his lifelong dedication to the Basque Country, even in the most difficult circumstances, both in exile and in Euskadi. In the year commemorating the 90th anniversary of the first Basque Government, he paid tribute to Uzturre and the generation that worked for Euskadi's future with commitment and humanism.
Furthermore, he warned that Euskadi is undergoing a period of major global transformations, marked by technological revolution, demographic and climate changes, and a profound geopolitical reconfiguration, all of which test democratic stability and well-being. In this context, he advocated for believing in and working towards the European model of freedom, justice, and welfare, and for raising awareness of what is at stake.
Looking ahead, he identified three major challenges for the Basque Country: generating wealth through economic-industrial transformation, adapting the welfare system to new needs, and preserving and developing Basque identity through self-government. To address these, he called for collaboration, responsibility, and the common good, drawing inspiration from Uzturre's example and his humanist commitment to Euskadi.
The event aimed to analyze the key aspects of the current context and their impact on Basque society, as well as to identify the objectives on which Euskadi should focus its efforts in the present and immediate future.
