Andueza has asked Pradales for "expansionary" budgets by 2027 and a "social priority" over the national one

The round of contacts initiated after the summer by lehendakari Imanol Pradales with political parties and socio-economic actors is progressing. On Wednesday, he met with PSE-EE Secretary General Eneko Andueza, a coalition partner of the PNV, who conveyed to lehendakari his priorities for next year's budgets, demanding that the accounts be "expansive."

After pointing out that the meeting took place in a friendly and cooperative atmosphere, the Socialist leader stressed that this "constructive" attitude is the basis on which his relations with the President are based, even in times and situations in which they are not entirely satisfied.

Andueza and lehendakari have agreed on the need to closely monitor the impact of international conflicts in the Basque Country and to continue to protect citizens, employment and businesses. Faced with this situation, the PSE leader has called for the2027 Basque budgets to be "expansive" and to "grow"in order to respond" firmly "to current challenges.

He stressed that the Basque Government must focus solely on the 'social priority'- strengthening health, education, housing and mobility - regardless of the' national priority '.

At the press conference following his meeting with the lehendakari, Andueza, the Secretary-General of the Basque Socialists recalled that in the coming months the Basque Government will promote new instruments for the protection of existing housing and the preservation of the park. In order to guarantee these measures managed by the Housing Department of the PSE-EE, Andueza has transferred to the lehendakari the need to introduce the necessary legislative changes to the Budget Act of 2027.

In order to limit fraud and speculation, henceforth the transmission of protected housing will necessarily take place through Alokabide, so that the Basque Government itself will determine the identity of the buyer among eligible citizens in order to put an end to transactions involving illegal overpricing beyond the limits laid down in the regulations.

Finally, the socialist leader has confirmed the launch of the Social Housing Fund in early 2027, with the aim of promoting 10,000 new public housing units in the next two legislatures.

Pradales and Andueza also referred to the poor performance of Basque students in the latest PISA report. The socialist leader maintains his "concern" and asks both lehendakari and the Department of Education, which depends on the PNV, "analysis, self-criticism and concrete action" to reverse the situation.

On the other hand, faced with the language profiles for public employment in the Basque Country, Andueza has stressed his party's "will" to reach an agreement on the new decree, but has warned lehendakari that the Socialists will not change their principles and political position in this area.

With regard to competences, Andueza has acknowledged that government partners have not yet agreed on a common position on the management of the Port of Passages, although they are still working. On the other competences, the PSE-EE leader has stressed that the partnership with the Spanish Government is "constant" and although he has sometimes acknowledged that it is "legally complex", and has hoped that the Bilateral Cooperation Commission, which was suspended in July, will be held in the coming months.

On the other hand, Andueza has described Pradales "criticism of Sanchez for the migration crisis in Ceuta as" disproportionate. "Andueza has called for political cooperation in the face of the blockade of the right and the far right.