The Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, takes office for the first time with an initial citizen rating of 5.4 points out of 10, a pass, according to the extended version of the Sociometer developed by the Ikerfel company for the Sociological Prospecting Office (GPS) of Basque presidency, which already announced ten days ago that the PNV and the PSE-EE would see their majority in government strengthened if they were now to repeat the regional elections. Pradales is the most appreciated Basque political leader, as well as the best known and to whom the greatest number give at least a 5. However, he remains a little below the parameters that his predecessor, Iñigo Urkullu, had in this same survey in his speech. from twelve months ago.
23% of the population still does not know the new lehendakari, but in February, before the elections, it was 80%. Of course, many cannot locate either the opposition leader, Pello Otxandiano, of EH Bildu, or the PES-EE leader, Eneko Andueza. In both cases, 49% do not give them a face. The percentage rises to 60% in the case of Javier de Andrés, of the PP, despite his long institutional career. Only 15% know Sumar’s only representative in the Basque Parliament, Jon Hernández, who is serving his third term in the Chamber as a member of IU. And barely 25% identify the leader of the far right, Amaia Martínez Grisaleña, in her second term at the head of Vox.
As for the ratings, Pradales’ 5.4 – the same as that of his government as a whole – rises to 6.8 when we ask the supporters of the PNV and to 6 among the voters of the Socialists, partners of the coalition . But the Lehendakari also approves of the co-religionists of EH Bildu (with a 5 without fail) and the PP (with a 5.2). Even in Sumar they see the PNV leader with a 4.9. Foreigners, moreover, give Pradales a much better rating than natives (6.3 versus 5.3) and even obtain better figures among people from the rest of Spain (5.6) than among those born in Alava, Biscay, Gipuzkoa or Navarre. Otxandiano’s rating is 5.3, almost as high as Pradales’, but during the campaign it was the opposite. Otxandiano, however, improves by two points the previous reference of Nerea Kortajarena, now his right-hand man in Parliament. These are the only ones approved. Hernández de Sumar has 4.5, Andueza 4.4 and De Andrés and Martínez Grisaleña 3.
It is significant that those surveyed draw a Basque Country with a “good” or “very good” political situation – 66% mention this – compared to only 17% who think the same of Spain. This percentage even rises to 78% when asked about the economy, compared to 38% in Spain. But what are the main problems? Employment is for 45%, it is an economic issue. Next, concern about housing quickly rises to 38%. This indicator has doubled in one year. Concerns about Osakidetza’s health also increase, from 28% to 32%. And “crime” and “immigration”, combined, now reach 35% compared to 21% barely twelve months ago. A nuance, in the case of the second question, are added the responses of those who see “problems” with foreigners and those who rightly denounce “racism”. Respondents in any case ask Pradales to address the improvement of Osakidetza when asked about their priorities. 44% think so. Self-determination or reform of the Statute, for example, are only mentioned by 3%. And Basque by 2%.
42% feel “both Basque and Spanish” and this is the most common label, above the 19% only Basque, 23% more Basque than Spanish or 8% only Spanish or more Spanish than Basque. 33%, however, indicate that they would support independence “depending on the circumstances”. In the PNV, we also find a majority of opponents of the break with Spain (43% against 15% of separatists). Even among EH Bildu voters, 12% are opposed and 40% have doubts. In fact, 2% of PP supporters in Euskadi feel like they are independent.
