The PSN defends the "solidity" of the regional coalition to move forward

Despite the string of scandals surrounding the Santos Cerdán investigation, with Navarre identified as the cradle of an alleged corruption scheme that later spread nationally, the new spokesperson for the Socialist Workers' Party (PSN), Ainhoa ​​Unzu, yesterday emphasized the "solidity" of the current regional government's investiture bloc, led by the Socialists, along with Geroa Bai and Contigo-Zurekin. "Agenda and work, that's what we're going to focus on," said the replacement for Ramón Alzórriz, who resigned on Wednesday after reporting that his partner worked at Servinabar, one of the companies investigated by the UCO.

These are tough days for the president of Navarre, María Chivite. In just one week, she has lost two key pillars of her party: Cerdán, her friend and supporter in Madrid, and Alzórriz, her second-in-command in the region. Furthermore, the opposition groups (UPN, PP, and Vox) accuse her of being "tainted" by the scandals and, relentlessly, angrily demand her resignation. However, she rejects that possibility, clinging for now to the stability offered by her allies, as long as new revelations don't force them to do otherwise.

Podemos in Navarra rules out leaving the regional government, despite demands from Madrid.

"As of today, this is a scheme of alleged bribes from the PSOE, not from the Navarrese government," argues Geroa Bai (Social Verdes and PNV). Its spokesperson, Pablo Azcona, asserts that the Civil Guard has not pointed out "any illegality" in the regional government's contracts or awards, something that exists in "the Ministry (of Transport) or other regions." This is a similar position to that of Contigo-Zurekin (Podemos, IU, and others), which demands "information and stenographers" to dispel any doubts. "If further information emerges that points to irregularities, all scenarios—including a split—would remain open," notes its spokesperson, Carlos Guzmán.

Yesterday, in response to the corruption cases, the Podemos spokesperson in Madrid, Pablo Fernández, called on his party's coordinator in Navarre, Begoña Alfaro, to leave the regional government, an option the Housing Minister "is not considering." "No one here has been singled out or implicated, so she has no intention of leaving," said a source close to Alfaro, whose relationship with the central leadership is "zero."

The three partners, along with EH Bildu, have presented an initiative calling for Parliament to launch a commission of inquiry this summer to analyze the tenders and awards of public works carried out or financed by the regional government from June 2011 to the present.

However, UPN fears that going so far back in time could be a "smokescreen" to hinder investigations into the awarding of the Belate tunnel expansion contract. The party has been denouncing irregularities for months in the awarding of this €76 million project to the joint venture formed by Acciona, Construcciones Oses, and Servinabar, the firm now accused of being 45% owned by Cerdán. "We know there's something shady going on," denounces its president, Cristina Ibarrola, who believes it is "urgent" to establish a commission of inquiry into this specific case and to assume "political responsibility."