You’re now standing before the Basque Parliament, a place where many voices, ideas, and passions come together. Imagine for a moment the energy inside-debates swirling, footsteps echoing as deputies hurry through the hallways, shuffling papers, raising questions, making decisions that shape the Basque Country.
The building itself wasn’t always meant for politics. In fact, it used to be a high school, transformed into a parliament back in 1982. It was just two years earlier, in the spring of 1980, that the first session was held-not here, but in Guernica, under the symbolic shelter of an ancient oak tree. This was no ordinary choice. For centuries, under the great tree of Guernica, Basques gathered to decide their fate in the open air-a symbol of freedom. In tribute, you’ll find inside a striking wooden sculpture by Nestor Basterretxea, a stylized oak tree that seems to whisper ancient secrets to those who listen.
Within these walls, seventy-five deputies sit-each representing one of the three Basque provinces, whether it’s bustling Biscay, mountainous Gipuzkoa, or tranquil Álava. It doesn’t matter how many people live in each province; the voices here are equal. That might have caused a bit of haggling behind the scenes, as regions big and small argued for their place. And, just imagine, even today, votes are cast in two languages-Basque and Spanish-with translators making sure every word is understood, no matter which language is spoken.
So, as you stand here, feel the sense of decision and debate that fills the air. The stones of the old school may remember laughter and lessons from the past, but now they hold the weight of the Basque people’s future.
