EH Bildu Distances Itself from ERC’s Coalition Proposal, Emphasizes Political Unity Against Right-Wing Threats

EH Bildu has clearly differentiated between political unity on the left and forming electoral coalitions ahead of the 2026 general elections. The party’s deputy spokesperson, Oskar Matute, rejected ERC spokesperson Gabriel Rufián’s call for a broad left-wing electoral coalition designed to counter the rise of right-wing parties like the Popular Party (PP) and Vox.

Speaking on Radio Euskadi, Matute emphasized, “There is no need to confuse political action unity with electoral unity.” While EH Bildu supports a unified political approach to confront the authoritarian wave threatening their communities and advocate for Euskal Herria’s rights, they do not intend to engage in formal electoral alliances with other leftist parties.

Matute clarified that EH Bildu has no plans to negotiate an organic alliance with ERC, despite Rufián's proposal for a wide leftist front. Instead, EH Bildu insists on maintaining its unique project tailored specifically for the Basque Country, backed by a strong existing leftist front. He further highlighted the need for a credible leftist entity to the left of the PSOE at the national level, pointing out the upcoming coalition presentation by Sumar on February 21 as a potential counterpart.

The debate gained momentum after recent election results in Aragón where Vox strengthened its position, raising concern among leftist forces about the growing influence of far-right parties. EH Bildu leaders, including Arnaldo Otegi, have reaffirmed their commitment to responding collectively to these challenges but remain wary of diluting their political identity by joining broad electoral coalitions.

This stance underscores EH Bildu’s desire to maintain ideological coherence and regional focus, distinguishing itself from ERC’s push for broader leftist electoral alliances at the national level.