Elixabete Etxanobe

Etxanobe started her career working as a solicitor for a Madrid-based law firm, from 2001 to 2003.^[3] She later joined the Civil Service, working as secretary-comptroller in the Otxandio Town Hall (2003-2004). Since 2004, she holds a permanent post in the Durango Town Hall, responsible for Secretary, Procurement and Heritage. She worked in Durango from 2004 to 2013.

She joined the Basque National Party in 2006, and stood for local elections of Otxandio in 2007, serving as town councillor for the 2007–2011 term.

Etxanobe joined the Basque Government in 2013, upon being named Director for Local Government Relations and Administrative Registers, serving under the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration in the first government of Iñigo Urkullu (2012-2016). She maintained the position during the second Urkullu government (2016-2020), but serving under the Ministry of Public Governance and Self-Government.^[4][5][6] In 2019, Etxanobe was promoted and was named deputy minister for Institutional Relations.^{[citation needed]}

In 2020, the third Urkullu government was formed and Etxanobe was named deputy minister of Administration and Services under the Ministry of Security.^[7] During her tenure in government, Etxanobe served under minister Josu Erkoreka, who has been considered her political mentor.^[8]

She resigned from the Basque Government in 2021, when Unai Rementeria, Deputy General (President) of the Foral Council of Bizkaia announced a reshuffle in his cabinet.^[9] Etxanobe was named foral deputy of Public Administration and Institutional Relations.^[10][11]

In 2022, Unai Rementeria announced that he would not seek re-election as Deputy General in the May 2023 election. In a surprise move, the Basque National Party announced that Etxanobe would be their leading candidate.^[1][12] She became the first woman of her party to aim for the presidency of the Foral Council of Bizkaia.^[13][14]

The Basque National Party led by Etxanobe won the 2023 foral election in Biscay, securing 38.41% of the vote and 23 seats in the General Assembly of Biscay. Although the party lost 2 seats, they formed a coalition government and secured an absolute majority with PSE-EE.^[15] Etxanobe was named Deputy General on 5 July 2023.^[16][17] She is the first woman to hold the position. She later announced the composition of her cabinet, which was the cabinet with most women in the history of the institution.^[18]

Etxanobe resides in her hometown Otxandio. She is married and is a mother to a son and a daughter (twins).^[6][19] Etxanobe is fluent in Basque, Spanish, English and French.^{[citation needed]}