 Matute was also a member of Espacio Alternativo (EA, Alternative Space), part of IU.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.However he was appointed to the Basque Parliament in January 2002 following the resignation of Javier Madrazo.