The Government of Lehendakari Jose Antonio Agirre has been honored at his first residence at the Carlton Hotel

On Tuesday, the Basque Government adopted an institutional declarationcommemorating its constitution, 90 years ago, a milestone of great importance in the history of the Basque Country and, in tribute to it, the Basque Government chaired by the Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, visited the Carlton Hotel inBilbao today, its first seat, where this week's Governing Council was held and with which the Basque Government's annual programme began.

Broad Government

The approved institutional declaration recalls that on 7 October 1936, the first Basque Government was established at the Gernika Board House, following the approval of the Statute of Autonomy by the Republican Courts.

It was presided over by the Lehendakari, José Antonio Aguirre, and was composedof the main political forces loyal to the Republic, the Basque nationalists, socialists, republicans and communists, in the harsh context of the Civil War.

"It wasthe government of the Union, the result of the extraordinary events of the time, of course, but also of certain personal and collective positions that tended to dialogue and agreement as a formula for advancing popular construction, "the statement states.

The work of the Government

Despite the context of war, the Government developed a great deal of institutional and social activity. "A Cabinet of War, yes, but whose government action far exceeded the military sphere. It was a positive Government, which sought to humanize war and build the people. It laid the foundations for its own institutional structure and exercised political power to defend democratic legality, as well as to organize and improve, as far as possible, the lives of the civilian population in the rear. "

The institutional declaration also highlights thatit promoted a wide range ofe kimen and measures in areas such as health, education, justice or the economy; created the Ertzaintza; and promoted the symbolic construction of the Basque Country.

It has also highlighted its "truly advanced" social policies, which were " in the antipodesof individualism and collectivism, capitalism and communism, reaction and revolution, which were not outside the ideology, programme and political practice of the first Basque Government, concepts such as social dialogue, the social function of property, the regulation of market laws, progressive taxation, or the participation of workers in the enterprise, "they have pointed out.

They recall that the Government's course on Basque lands ended in June 1937, as a result of a military defeat.

"It was not possible: rifles against warplanes, fishing vessels against warships, force of reason against force. David could not defeat Goliath. On 30 June 1937, in Trucios, Lehendakari Aguirre proclaimed shortly before his banishment: "The Basque land will be conquered; the soul of the Basque people will not be conquered; and it will never be conquered."

The Government welcomes the action of that Government, which "defendeddemocratic legality, human rights and social cohesion ".

"George Steer, correspondent of The Times and direct witness of the war in the Basque Country, did not hesitate to confirm thatthe Basques in nine months gave the world a beautiful example of good governance and dignity, "they recall.

An example for today's Basques

That is why the government of President Pradales has declared that the  experience of the 1936 governmentis"an inspirational road map for the Basques of the 21st century."

"The first Basque Government is the memory of freedom, democracy and social justice; of dignity, humanism and solidarity; of unity, dialogue and agreement; memory of self-government. We continue to proclaim these principles and values for the Basque Country, for Europe, for the world as well. Euskadi is a cohesive innovator.