Briefing
Euskal Herria Bildu on 18 September 2026, at a meeting of the Mesa Política in Vitoria-Gasteiz officially Rocío Vitero confirmed her as lead candidate for the municipal election in spring 2027. The decision, communicated within the party, signals continuity: Vitero received the most votes in the 2023 municipal elections, but has not served as mayor since then and is Bildu’s group spokesperson on the city council.
Since the city’s post-2023 council was formed, it has been governed by a coalition of PSE-EE and PNV; Maider Etxebarria (PSE-EE), with the mayor at the head of the city council. At the 2023 investiture vote, the coalition also received support from the Partido Popular. This explains why the top vote-getters in 2023 did not take over the administration, and why any post-2027 election majorities will depend on coalition decisions.
By renominating Vitero, Euskal Herria Bildu aims to consolidate its 2023 result and create the conditions for forming a government. Party sources highlight Vitero’s experience in local opposition work, while also noting that negotiations and coalition decisions will be needed to take over the city government after the election, unless an absolute majority is achieved.
Today’s personnel decision forms part of the parties’ ongoing candidate selection processes for the 2027 foral and municipal elections in the provinces of Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. Bildu has also announced that most of its other lead candidates in the historic provinces have been confirmed, with a few changes in individual cities.
Formally, the nomination is a dated step in the election preparation process; politically, it marks the start of the local campaign preparations and underscores Bildu’s strategy of seeking to repeat its 2023 electoral success while keeping the conditions for future coalition negotiations open.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).