Jon Insausti: "Politics is not done from banners or social media."

The Mayor of San Sebastian (PNV), Jon Insausti, believes that "politics is not done from banners or social media," but "through party-building alliances, clearly speaking, looking at face-to-face problems and offering concrete solutions to citizens."

With this kind of policy, which, in his view, is "very humanist," he will try to defend and gain "the trust and credibility of the Donostiarras," offering closeness, listening ability and answers , because "governing well means caring for people and being demanding with the results," he stressed.

It has not been two months since 29 October, when Eneko Goia took the baton of command of the capital of Guipuzcoana after his resignation, but he says he has not lost "a minute."

The mayor is "motivated and strong" and will offer "humility and ambition," thus acquiring "the best elements to transform the city."

"Fortunately, politics here has nothing to do with what lives in Madrid," he says.

On the election results in Extremadura last Sunday, with the victory of the PP, the rise of Vox and the significant fall of the Socialists, he has made a reading: "There is great discontent with politics. "

When parties like Santiago Abascal "get the support of society, it's because something is happening and you have to look inside," says Insausti, who believes that in San Sebastian "we have learned a lot from our past and value coexistence and cohesion," which will support it "firmly and rigorously."

In the face of populism and extremism, he has advocated "partnerships between various political parties," because "such opportunities will cause us not to prosper."

Moreover, in the face of social concerns, "you have to be clear, be focused, look at face-to-face problems and offer concrete solutions." Otherwise, "you make balls, and then it turns out that these aspects come with" easy answers "that are not real." 

"I believe that politics is not done from banners or social networks, which requires being on the streets responding to concerns," said the mayor, who stressed that San Sebastián and the Basque Country "have suffered and learned a lot from the past" and that it is now up to them to "preserve the healthy coexistence" that we are enjoying.

The political tensions in the Basque Country are only "in front of the cameras", because in the street, the exclusionary "gestures and actions" are "marginal and totally rejected by the vast majority of society".

In this regard, he concludes that the traumatic past of terrorism "has taught us to preserve coexistence and to have that political culture that is now a reference".

He likes to talk about "memory" as an "instrument for caring for the present and protecting the future," which is why he believes that "Basque politics is so different from that of San Sebastian."

Opening the spotlight to European and global trends, he prefers to look at the "traces of hope" that exist, such as the "results in the Netherlands," where Rob Jetten, a candidate for prime minister for the liberal-centrist Democrats party, won, or the victory of Democrat Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York last month.

These cases show that there is "a different style," and that, despite "extreme tendencies," when politicians "are able to get down to the ground and give concrete answers, people value it and reward it."

"It is a question of adapting the policy to the new times, updating the instrument, the PNV, in order to achieve a higher quality of life in the Basque Country," he said.

As for his relationship with the PSE-EE coalition partner, Insausti has said that "harmony and common work is constant." "I have nothing to reproachhim for, "he stressed. He then stressed that the two parties in the government agree that they must" listen more, explain better, and act consistently. "

With regard to the relationship with the other parties in the City Council, he believes that the 15 opposition amendments added to the 2026 budget "are not anecdotal" because some were agreed with everyone and it meant "opening a door" that he wants to open throughout the new year.

However, he believes that EH Bildu remains "in confrontation" and "has left himself out of the pacts", even in San Sebastián. "He has been saying no to municipal budgets for eleven years too," recalled Insausti, who has warned that San Sebastian has not moved forward "until it is always where it is with positions that defend no."

The mayor refuses to have this vision because the coalition is the main rival to beat in the 2027 elections, because its "main challenge is to gain the trust and credibility of the Donostiarras," and to achieve this, in addition to listening to them, it will work to ensure that everyone "has the opportunity to develop a decent life in the city."

Itis proposed to articulate solutions on "key issues" such as "employment, security and housing." "After years of developing a large city, with large infrastructure," he said, "we must now see how it benefits the donostiarras in their daily lives."

Although his term will be short, Jon Insausti will not be "looking to the time," as he "works with a medium- and long-term perspective, excluding election calls," which does not detract from setting closer targets.

"I want to establish a new style at this time so that access to housing is possible, the economy is strengthened and security is improved," summed up by the spokesman jeltzale, who stressed that the housing problem is the "central axis" of his management.