Oskar Matute García de Jalón (born 5 October 1972) is a Spanish politician and a member of the
Congress of Deputies of
Spain. He was previously a member of the
Basque Parliament.
Matute was an activist in the
movement against compulsory
military service in Spain and the
pacifist Elkarri movement.[4][5][6] He was also a member of the Viento Sur and Ezker Gogoa foundations, and Lokarri and Euskadiko Langile Komisioak.[7]
Matute was co-ordinator for the presidency of the
United Left–Greens (Ezker Batua–Berdeak, EB–B) and the federal presidency of the
United Left (IU).[8][9] He became a member of the EB's executive representing the Ekaitza faction.[10] Ekaitza had been formed in 1993 by those supporting Basque sovereignty, the
right to self-determination, alternative social movements and citizen participation in political decisions.[10] Following the 1998 Estella Pact (of which EB–B was a signatory), Ekaitza transformed into Batzen with Matute as its spokesperson.[11] Matute was also a member of
Espacio Alternativo (EA, Alternative Space), part of IU.[12]
At the
2001 regional election Matute was placed 2nd on the EB–B's
list of candidates in the
Province of Biscay but the party only managed to win one seat in the province and as a result he failed to get elected to the
Basque Parliament.[13][14] However he was appointed to the Basque Parliament in January 2002 following the resignation of
Javier Madrazo.[15] At the
2005 regional election Matute was placed 2nd on the EB–B's list of candidates in the Province of Biscay but, again, the party only managed to win one seat in the province and as a result he failed to get re-elected to the Basque Parliament.[16][17] However he was re-appointed to the Basque Parliament in July 2005 following the resignation of Javier Madrazo.[18]
At the EB–B's 7th Assembly in June 2008, held at the
Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall in Bilbao, Matute challenged incumbent Javier Madrazo for the party's general co-ordinator position but was defeated after only receiving 22% of the votes.[19] Matute founded Alternatiba Eraikitzen (Alternative in Progress) a socio-political organisation which became the
Alternatiba (Alternative) political party.[20] He left EB–B in April 2009.[21] Alternatiba joined
Bildu when it was founded in 2011.[22]
At the
2011 local elections Matute was placed 25th on the Bildu's list of candidates in Barakaldo but the alliance only managed to win four seats in the municipality and as a result he failed to get elected.[23][24] He contested the
2012 regional election as an
EH Bilduelectoral alliance candidate in the Province of Biscay and was re-elected to the Basque Parliament.[25][26]