On the night before, a group of young people from Ernai, the youth wing of the Sortu party, appeared outside the El Correo editorial office building in Bilbao. They plastered the office’s metal shutters with bright posters criticizing the newspaper and featuring slogans in support of Basque Country (Euskal Herria) independence. Ernai quickly shared a video of this action on social media, accompanied by a provocative comment: “Did you think this wouldn’t affect you?”
The posters displayed not only calls to participate in the upcoming independence demonstration scheduled for this Saturday, but also copies of old newspaper pages from El Correo and El Diario Vasco. These pages, dating back to the Civil War era, featured materials glorifying dictator Francisco Franco. The young activists accused the El Correo editorial board of allegedly shifting from supporting the Francoist regime to defending today’s “reactionary and bourgeois” Spanish projects.
Protest campaign
This action was not an isolated incident. Over the past month, Ernai and other left-wing Basque independence youth organizations have staged a whole series of similar protests. These have included removing Spanish flags from public buildings, spray-painting graffiti and putting up posters outside the offices of the Partido Popular (PP) in Bilbao, as well as taking down the famous toro de Osborne in Rivabellosa (Álava).
Ernai’s video is accompanied by accusations against El Correo and other media outlets. According to activists, these publications “criminalize the youth movement” and spread “sexist, racist, and transphobic” ideas. Ernai also claims that such media “roll out the red carpet for the far right and fascists,” and that they have no place in Basque society.
Authorities’ response
Bilbao Mayor Juan Mari Aburto publicly condemned the attack on El Correo’s newsroom. He expressed support for the newspaper’s journalists and staff, stressing that such actions are unacceptable. In a statement on social network X, Aburto noted: “The more attacks there are, the more empty political statements we hear. All this only proves that the past continues to poison the present for those who claim to have abandoned such methods.”
City officials and representatives of various political groups also expressed concern over the increase in such incidents. They emphasized that attacks on the media and state symbols do not foster dialogue and only heighten tensions in society.
Event context
Actions by Ernai and other left-wing youth independence organizations are taking place against the backdrop of rising political tensions in the Basque Country. Recently, there has been an increase in acts of vandalism targeting state symbols and sites associated with Spanish identity. In addition to attacks on newspaper offices, there have been reports of theft of national and regional flags, as well as provocative graffiti appearing on historic buildings.
Debate continues in society over the role of the media in shaping public opinion and the boundaries of what is acceptable in political struggle. Representatives of youth movements insist on their right to protest, but their methods have drawn sharp criticism from officials and part of the public.
Consequences and debate
It is not yet known whether administrative or criminal proceedings will be initiated in connection with the posters placed on the El Correo building. The newspaper’s management has declined to comment on the situation, but newsroom staff point out that such incidents are becoming increasingly frequent.
At the same time, representatives of youth organizations have announced their intention to continue protest campaigns until their demands are heard. In the coming days, a new mass demonstration of independence supporters is expected in Bilbao, which could lead to new actions and confrontations.
