:52:01
It is the idea of Elkarri
that is being persecuted,
:52:04
and not its ideas as such.
:52:06
The peace conference doesn't bring
political forces together.
:52:10
It brings together
moderators whom they trust
:52:12
and who draw up draft proposals
for an agreement.
:52:15
The citizens have given
legitimacy, responsibility
:52:20
and the duty
of solving the problem
:52:23
to the political parties.
:52:24
We shouldn't leave the solution
of our problems to other people.
:52:28
That would be totally irresponsible.
:52:30
Then those proposals are
put to the political parties,
:52:33
all of whom are participating,
including the Socialist Party,
:52:36
but not the PP.
:52:38
Elkarri can help, undoubtedly,
:52:40
but the final solution has to come
from the political parties
:52:44
and from the governments.
:52:46
Elkarri is some 20 years ahead
of the needs of a civil society,
:52:52
because if there isn't
a strong civil society
:52:55
you'll have to fasten
your seatbelt
:52:58
because it'll be horrendous.
:53:00
You'll have politicians
controlling the media,
:53:03
creating opinions, manipulating
things as they please.
:53:08
The Popular Party (PP) won the
general election in Spain in 1996.
:53:13
Since 2000, José María Aznar has
governed with an absolute majority.
:53:18
In May 2001,
the nationalist coalition PNV-EA
:53:20
won in the Basque Country
(43% of the vote).
:53:23
The PP is the second
political force (23%).
:53:27
Since the PP obtained
an absolute majority
:53:31
freedom of expression
has lost ground,
:53:33
but I think that freedom
in general has lost ground.
:53:39
In my opinion,
:53:40
while the transition
took many steps forward
:53:43
the PP is now trying to take
those same steps backwards.
:53:47
Aznar always used to say that,
:53:49
because of the transition
and everything that came after,
:53:54
Spain was leaning more
towards the provinces
:53:58
and had lost its identity
as a nation.