The president of UPN (Navarrese People's Union) and candidate for the Government of Navarra, Cristina Ibarrola, has called for measures to ensure that "no company is deterred from investing in Navarra due to a lack of electricity, water, or excessive bureaucracy." This commitment was made during her speech at the closing of the event 'Acción Economía: ideas y soluciones para Navarra', organised by her party in Pamplona.
The fourth edition of this forum featured contributions from various experts, including Emilio Huerta, a professor of Business Organisation at the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), Álvaro Miranda, a civil engineer and former Minister of Economy and Finance for the Government of Navarra, and Carlos Medrano, a business consultant and university lecturer.
Ibarrola outlined UPN's project to stimulate Navarra's economy, which is based on five key areas: ensuring electric capacity, securing water resources, enhancing fiscal competitiveness, reducing bureaucracy, and improving infrastructure connections. She stated, "I want a Navarra that takes off: lower taxes, more investment, and better salaries."
To address energy needs, Ibarrola proposed creating an "electricity demand map" that identifies projects, power requirements, planned investments, and timelines for each region. She indicated that this information would be used to advocate for necessary network expansions from the central government.
On water management, she stressed the importance of a long-term strategy, suggesting the establishment of a multi-year regional fund for water security. She also called for a concrete timeline and defined funding for the second phase of the Canal de Navarra project.
In terms of taxation, Ibarrola advocated for leveraging fiscal autonomy to enhance competitiveness, which she believes would attract businesses and improve salaries, ultimately increasing the purchasing power of Navarrese citizens. She summarised her commitment by stating, "In Navarra, under a UPN government, neither citizens nor businesses will pay more taxes than in the rest of Spain."
Among the proposed measures are automatic deflation of personal income tax (IRPF), a reduction in the wealth tax, a four-point cut in corporate tax, and support for family businesses. Additionally, she suggested a "zero regional fee" for self-employed individuals and faster payments to small suppliers.
Ibarrola also addressed the issue of bureaucratic burdens, proposing a 25% reduction in administrative tasks during the next legislative term. She advocated for a single submission of documents already held by the administration, a one-stop shop for businesses, and public timelines for strategic projects.
Regarding infrastructure, she proposed a new agreement with the state for the high-speed train (TAV), including a multi-year plan, defined funding, responsibilities, and a verifiable timeline, alongside specific improvements for the motorway connecting to Madrid.
Emphasising that these priorities should benefit all of Navarra, not just Pamplona and its surroundings, Ibarrola suggested enhancing industrial aid in areas at risk of depopulation and linking rural taxation to employment and activity levels. She also highlighted the need for a workforce prepared to meet these investment opportunities, proposing training policies aligned with business needs.
In conclusion, Ibarrola stated that UPN would present a legislative calendar with priorities and budget forecasts to implement the outlined programme. "In the first phase, we will complete diagnostics of electric capacity, specify tax reforms, measure administrative processes, and organise infrastructure negotiations. Each measure will have milestones and monitoring," she asserted.
