Vitoria (EFE).- Numerous curious candidates compete on the Basque lists, from Mercedes de Borbón to the founding drummer of Duncan Dhu or a transformist mayor who acts as “La Polaca”.
Mercedes de Borbón, daughter of Leandro de Borbón, judicially recognized son of King Alfonso XIII, appears in the PP of Iruraiz Gauna, an Alava town of 500 inhabitants.
With little chance of being elected, since in the previous elections the popular ones obtained 16 votes.
His son, Luis Sautu de Borbón, is number 16 of the PP for Vitoria.
Mercedes de Borbón has lived with her family in Álava for many years.
A classic candidate, the former drummer of Duncan Dhu
A classic on the lists, with twelve years as a PNV councilor in San Sebastián, is Juanra Viles, who in his day was the drummer who, together with Mikel Erentxun and Diego Vasallo, founded the group Duncan Dhu.
Now he goes as number 5 for Donostia, then it is possible that he will continue as mayor.
Another who aspires to repeat is the current PNV councilor in Bilbao Iñigo Zubizarreta, former singer of Mocedades.
Also a singer is Juantxo Arakama, a vocalist who was from the group Glaukoma (Tolosa), a candidate for EHBildu.
Meanwhile, the bertsola player Iker Zubeldia aspires to be re-elected mayor of Zegama by EHBildu.
Continuing in art, in Ribera Alta, Javier Gallego (PNV) is running for re-election as mayor, who usually acts as a drag queen under the stage name of La Polaca.
In Vitoria, number 9 on the PP list is Antoine Esono Nguema, who was “King Baltasar” until two years ago.
There is no shortage of television “celebrities”: Borja Hernández Urrutxurtu, a participant in the TVE “reality” Maestros de la Costura, is on the PNV lists in Getxo.
In Irún Xabier Peña, former contestant on the ETB “Conquis”.
The Podemos candidate for mayor of Beasain, Aritz Corsitto, who is a forensic doctor, also has a curious profession.
In Labastida, Edu Barinaga, former director of Euskal Telebista, who is from Durango but has had a second home for more than 40 years in this town in Rioja Alavesa, is presented as an independent by the PNV.
There is even a sports journalist, the former Athletic Club press officer for almost two decades Xabier Fernández “Jabotxa”, who is presented by EHBildu in Bilbao.
An 18-year-old mayoral candidate
Among the young and less young there are also curious candidates: Julen Karrion (PNV) is running for re-election in Murueta, who in 2019 became the youngest mayor in the Basque Country at the age of 20. Today he is 24.
Although the youngest candidate this time will probably be Jon Echeverría, an 18-year-old from San Sebastian who is running as head of the PP list for Zumarraga.
At the other extreme, Felisa Aurrekoetxea, who is 93 years old and has been on the PNV candidacies in Leioa since 1999, is still on the lists.
Amaia Agirre (PNV), granddaughter of Lehendakari José Antonio Agirre, who in his day was also mayor of Getxo, will run for re-election in Getxo.
Among the activists, Begoña Eco, from the movement against the expansion of the tramway to the Vitoria campus, who is the number three candidate of Podemos in Juntas de Álava.
In the ranks of EHBildu there are 44 candidates convicted of belonging to and collaborating with ETA, including seven for murder, as reported by Covite.
Ayuso, the “signing”
The “signings” deserve a separate chapter, prominent political figures in “filler” positions that will stand for municipal elections in Euskadi, especially for the PP.
The president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who closes the list in Bilbao. EFE/JP Gandul
Other popular “signings” are the president of the Foundation for Victims of Terrorism, Cristina Cuesta, in Galdakao; in Durango Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (Ayuso’s chief of staff) and Edurne Uriarte; in Ermua, her town, Marimar Blanco, sister of the murdered mayor Miguel Ángel Blanco; and in Zumarraga Elías Bendodo, general coordinator of the party. EFE