2.- The BNP has always argued that all the approaches relating to any possible alliances, synergies and merger processes between the Savings Banks must be based on professional and technical proposals. We have always argued that the professionals of the Savings Banks must be ones who head both past and present merger processes.

3.- As well as having frustrated operations in the past, the PSE together with the PP, and in conjunction with other interests, are trying to get a bill through the Basque Parliament to  change the representation of the Savings Banks. The Bill’s objective has been and is widely acknowledged by the institutional representatives of the Basque Government as being to reduce the presence of the BNP on the representative bodies of the Savings Banks.

4.- The BNP defends respecting the relevant representation entitlement in each of the Savings Banks, including that held by the founding entities and the registration municipality of the entities arising from the elections held on 22 May.

5.- Given the public reaction of the PSE to the information published today, EAJ-BNP has noted that this party is completely ignoring the wishes of Basque Society. Yet again, this points towards the PSE opting to use something as important as the merger process of the Basque Savings Banks in its own private “war against the BNP”.

6.- The BNP has reiterated its commitment to the professional project to be proposed by the three Basque Savings Banks and offers its maximum backing to the decisions that they adopt provided that there is the necessary guarantees for the best outcome.