There are many readings of the agreement signed last Sunday between the Nationalist Left and EA. One might think that the Union has found the runway to face the elections. Or the take-off track for EA’s political difficulties. That there is nothing new in this agreement, or that it does not deviate sufficiently from ETA, or how this collaboration will be carried out being so different on so many occasions... You can think of a little machine in things and even in the media all sorts of opinions have been mirrored. But what cannot be questioned is the hope and illusion that such agreements generate among nationalists in general. Now they're going to have to figure out how to take what's been sewn between the addresses to the basics.

It is an agreement with great potential for many reasons, but for one reason in particular: because it has laid the foundations of the collaboration between the patriots of the post-armed struggle era. One of the main obstacles to collaboration between patriots has been the armed struggle and if it is finally overcome – and it seems so – a completely new situation will emerge in Basque politics and especially in patriotism. The goal will be in the same place for patriotism, but with the possibility of arriving more tenderly. The success of the Flemish independentists shows that it is possible to form large majorities and create new states in the European Union. Scotland, Catalonia and the Basque Country may be next. Well, why not?

For the last 30 years, the agreement clearly indicates what both parties have stressed: The Statute of Gernika is exhausted. Self-determination and independence are the next goals. Now it will be necessary to see how this consensus materializes in everyday political practice, especially considering the multiple realities that exist in the Basque Country.

Looking at this particular juncture in which we live, the agreement shields the choice of the nationalist left to develop exclusively political paths. So far, at least publicly, ETA has expressed its support for the reflection in the Basque Country, but many believe that ETA is not clear on what to do. Now, if the armed entity joins the “democratic process”, even better; but even if it did not, the nationalist left would remain firm on the new path taken.

AND WHAT IN NAVARRE? The collaboration between the EA and the nationalist left is long-standing and, therefore, the agreement that has just been signed is not an electoral one. But that too. The municipal and provincial elections are just around the corner and that is where the strength of this agreement will first be tested. There are no problems outside the Ministry of the Interior in the Basque Country, but there are problems in Navarre.

The decision of Aralar will be the cornerstone of the old kingdom, but even in the future this cannot go very far from the agreement that the Union and the EA have signed. The fundamentals of Aralar – and especially the voters – look favourably on the collaboration between patriots and, if respectful collaboration is ensured, they would hardly understand that Aralar would follow his path alone.
Therefore, there are two main alternatives in Navarre: either the formula of NaBai is repeated until now or NaBai is channeled between Aralar, EA and the patriotic left. We see great difficulties in both. Many voices in NaBai proclaim the return to the spirit of 2007, but this is no longer possible because four years later there are many opportunities to overcome the activity of ETA. And if there were an attack, the Union would put a sufficient distance from the armed organization.

First in the electoral field and then in the ordinary, patriotism seems to have two great manifestations: in one the PNV and in the other the patriotic left and the sovereign space in which the EA is now being animated. Everything could happen, but from this point of view, it will be very difficult to repeat the formula of Nabai 2007.