During the toughest years of ETA, the coordination between the bodyguards and state security proved to be a complicated challenge that included jealousy, money problems, and a lack of clear political leadership. According to a retired bodyguard quoted in the news, the absence of political leadership coordinating all actions was a notable flaw during that period.
The assassination of Miguel Ángel Blanco, a member of the Ermua Town Council, made other councilors from small towns aware that the ETA threat also affected them. Many local politicians were forced to delegate their security to private bodyguards, completely transforming their daily routines and those of their families.
The bodyguards had to be constantly alert, accompanying the protected individuals everywhere, from everyday activities like going to the gym to school meetings or night outings. This extreme lifestyle had a significant impact on the personal lives of the bodyguards and those they protected.
In those years, many private bodyguards and protected politicians lived in a stressful and dangerous reality. The lives of town councilors were radically altered by the need for constant protection. Some politicians even chose to resign from their positions due to the pressure and the extreme level of security they were subjected to.
Controlling routines, selecting establishments where to shop, and the constant presence of the bodyguard were common practices to avoid risks. The lives of those protected by private bodyguards or the Ertzaintza were marked by the constant death threat that being a potential target for ETA entailed.
The podcast "Escoltas: the shadow that protected me from ETA" recounts stories experienced by five bodyguards, an Ertzaintza agent, three protected politicians, and a journalist threatened during those times. These narratives provide a broader view of how ETA's violence affected multiple aspects of life in the Basque Country during that era.