Faced with a choice between compliance of Rodezno and intransigence of Fal, Bilbao aligned himself with the Francoist unification and joined the newly established FET.Estornés Zubizarreta, Esteban Bilbao Eguía entry at Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia online Though he was not among 4 Carlists who entered the first 10-member Secretariado of the party,the 4 Carlists were conde Rodezno, Tomás Dolz de Espejo, Luis Arellano and José María Mazón, Mercedes Peñalba Sotorrío, Entre la boina roja y la camisa azul, Estella 2013, , pp. 51-2 in October 1937 as one of 12 Traditionalists he was nominated into the totally decorative 50-member body, Consejo Nacional.Sánchez Erauski 1994, p. 213, Blinkhorn 2008, pp. 293, 361 Vehemently asked by Fal Conde not to accept, Bilbao stuck to his gunsMartorell Pérez 2009, p. 187 and in December 1937 the new regent-claimant Don Javier and Fal agreed to expulse him from the Comunión.Josep Carles Clemente, Historia del Carlismo Contemporaneo 1935-1972, Barcelona 1977, , 8425307600, p. 125, Clemente 2011, p. 231; according to Fal Conde, Bilbao and others "han prestado colaboración en cargos políticos destacados, no sólo sin autorización de la jerarquía sino abiertamente en contra de la orientación de la Comunión", quoted after Martorell Pérez 2009, p. 187 With all bridges burnt, following transformation of the Secretariat into Junta Politica, the new FET executive, Bilbao emerged as one of two top-positioned Carlists of the regime, becoming the Junta's member in October 1939. He exercised little if any influence on the emerging party; its Estatuto and internal structures were designed by Serrano,Peñalba Sotorrío 2013, pp. 77-86 who – together with his Falangist entourage – became Bilbao's chief opponent.Paul H. Lewis, Latin Fascist Elites: The Mussolini, Franco, and Salazar Regimes, London 2002, , 9780313013348, p. 85 He rather excelled as a speaker, mobilising support at Vascongadas public feasts.in Bilbao, San Sebastián or Tolosa; they could have been political gatherings, military events like recruits taking the oath, or religious, like consagración de Vizcaya al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, see Sánchez Erauski 1994, p. 213
