Imanol Pradales assumed the duties of President of the Basque Country in a ceremony held in front of the Tree of Gernika.

• The ceremony incorporated personal elements that the President wished to introduce at various points throughout the proceedings.

The Tree of Gernika was the venue for Imanol Pradales’s swearing-in ceremony as President of the Basque Country (Lehendakari, in Basque), which took place at midday in the presence of a large institutional representation.

Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for the President-elect to introduce personal elements at various points, given their particular significance.

From the outset, the event was marked by an arch comprising oars from La Sotera, sardine baskets from Santurtzi and fishing nets, which welcomed attendees at the Casa de Juntas’ main entrance. Imanol Pradales's gesture was intended to provide a venue for symbols of Basque ethnographic heritage, with a particular focus on those associated with the sea. The President has a personal connection, both as a Santurtziarra native and as a sailor during his youth.

The ceremony commenced in the Casa de Juntas plenary hall in Gernika with the reading of Royal Decree 586/2024, which appointed Imanol Pradales as President of the Basque Government.

Imanol Pradales has taken the oath of office outside and next to the pavilion that houses the Tree of Gernika, the most representative symbol of the Basque people’s freedoms. The oath is based on the traditional formula used by former President of the Basque Country Agirre in 1936: “Eusko lur gainean zutunik, Jaungoikoaren eta euskal gizartearen aurrean apalik, Gernikako zuhaitzpean, Asaben gomutaz, Herri ordezkari zareten zuen aurrean, Nire agintea zintzo betetzea. Zin dagit".

Following the oath, the Ertzaintza Band played the Hymn of the Basque Country. Upon returning to the hemicycle, Imanol Pradales assumed the role of the newly elected President, after which he received the makila from the outgoing President Iñigo Urkullu. 

Subsequently, Imanol Pradales proceeded to the Tree of Gernika, where he incorporated an additional element of special symbolism. This was in line with his objective of recovering the melody Agur Zaharra, which was played at the swearing-in of President Agirre in 1936. 

Finally, the President of the Basque Country, the President of the Basque Parliament and the President of the General Assembly of Bizkaia signed the book of honour in the Casa de Juntas office. At the request of Imanol Pradales, and in the presence of the original prototype that Nestor Basterretx made for the creation of the work Izaro, symbol of the Basque Parliament since 1983, and one of the works from Eduardo Chillida's Lurra series, located at the entrance to the Basque Parliament in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The President sought to reinforce the presence of culture and pay tribute to two of the most significant creators of Basque art, on the centenary of their birth.

The morning’s event was attended by Carlos Garaikoetxea, Juan José Ibarretxe and Patxi López, the Presidents, as well as the Councillors of the 12th Legislature and a broad institutional and social representation of the Basque Country. Also in attendance was the Vice-President of the Spanish Government, María Jesús Montero.

The composition of the Basque Government of the 13th Legislature was made public in the early afternoon.