Bilbao’s mayor Juan Mari Aburto has announced his departure after twelve years. He highlights growing poverty and repeat crime as urgent challenges. Aburto urges all institutions to act before leaving office next spring.
Juan Mari Aburto’s final address as mayor of Bilbao was unusually direct. With eight months left in office, he used the city’s annual state-of-the-villa session to warn that poverty and social exclusion are getting worse, and that the city can’t handle these problems alone. Aburto said Bilbao risks being left on its own if other institutions don’t get involved.
Aburto, who has led Bilbao since 2015, spoke openly about the toll of public service. He called his time as mayor both an honor and a source of personal strain, and said that fighting poverty and homelessness now requires a joint effort from the Basque Government, the Diputación, and Madrid. “Helping those who suffer most is everyone’s responsibility,” he said, pointing to a growing strain on social services that threatens to overwhelm the city’s resources. In recent interviews, Aburto has often mentioned his own health and family responsibilities, tying his farewell speech to a broader sense of both personal and institutional duty.
In September 2026, the municipal and regional agenda in Bilbao specifically highlighted 'universal mobility' and efforts to support elderly residents, people with disabilities, and those in vulnerable situations.
Aburto sees his legacy in practical changes. He highlighted the expansion of public elevators—from 20 to 84 during his three terms—which has made Bilbao the Spanish city with the most lifts and improved access for thousands. On the street, he’s often called “the mayor of the elevators,” a nickname he accepts, seeing it as proof that his administration focused on everyday needs. Reports, including coverage of the EL PAÍS exhibition in Bilbao, note that these accessibility projects are widely recognized and have made the city a model for urban mobility.
His record also includes working with the PSE, removing Franco-era symbols, naming more streets after women, and reducing unemployment. He credits these changes to steady effort and a focus on people. Still, he described himself as self-critical, though he didn’t list specific mistakes. Regional media continue to report heated debate over housing policy in the Basque Country, with opposition parties saying the government hasn’t kept up with demand or responded strongly enough to the housing crisis. This has made it harder for Aburto to balance social needs with limited resources.
Security is another challenge. The mayor acknowledged that theft and robbery have increased, but argued that police effectiveness has improved as well. He pointed to annual recruitment that keeps the police force at 900 officers, but warned that repeat offenders are taking advantage of legal loopholes and called for tougher rules. While there are no official statistics for 2026 yet, recent news coverage notes that concerns about crime and repeat offenses are now a regular part of public debate, though full data from Ertzaintza or city sources would be needed for exact figures.
In early September 2026, opposition parties in the Basque Country criticized the regional government for a persistent imbalance between new housing applicants and the actual supply of homes, highlighting ongoing social tension around housing policy.
Aburto urged his team and the opposition to keep moving forward on several projects: rebuilding the Antón de Artxanda restaurant, finishing the Pike adventure park, advancing the Ría special plan, and opening a new tram stop at Paseo de los Caños. He also promised the completion of the Zorrozaurre storm tank redevelopment and the new Ribera Park on the island.
His speech was more than a farewell. Aburto warned against the rise of far-right rhetoric, saying “not everything goes” and using the story of Little Red Riding Hood to show how dangerous ideas can slip in if people aren’t careful. He argued that losing respect, humility, and kindness leads to the erosion of social rights.
Leadership changes in Spanish cities often bring uncertainty, as seen when the Catalan police chief stepped down after a leadership dispute, a situation reported earlier. In Bilbao, Aburto’s departure marks a turning point for his successor, Mikel Hidalgo, who will inherit both the city’s progress and its unresolved problems.
Bilbao has changed a lot in the past decade, from new infrastructure to social policy reforms. But Aburto’s last message was blunt: without shared responsibility, the city’s progress is at risk. His warning about poverty and social imbalance is not just political—it’s a reminder to every institution involved in Bilbao’s future. The next administration will have to show whether these words become action.
