Overview

• At an August 13 briefing on anti-assault measures, Mayor Juan Mari Aburto said he did not want Bilbao to become "any town of the south of the State" and stressed the need to protect women and minorities from harassment.
• Andalucía Por Sí described the comment as discriminatory, declaring it a clear contempt for Andalusia and demanding a public retraction.
• As of August 14, Aburto has made no formal apology or retraction in response to the regional criticism.
• Bilbao officials portray the remark as part of a broader plan to prevent violence, hate incidents and gender-based harassment at the Aste Nagusia festival.
• The dispute has reignited long-standing north-south regional tensions and raised debate over institutional stereotyping in Spain.