Jon Aristu
Pamplona (EFE).- Laura Aznal (Pamplona, 1971), EH Bildu’s candidate for the presidency of Navarra, assures that her coalition has prevented the right from governing whenever possible and warns that “voting for the PSN is giving the government away to the right in Iruña”.
In an interview with EFE, Aznal affirms that the current formula of the Government of Navarra has had “fissures” and explains that, as of May 28, “it will be necessary to sit down to talk at length” about both the formation of the Executive and the the different municipalities.
It is the first time that she leads the abertzale list, a formation that other political parties do not stop talking about, something that for the candidate means that “they do not have a political project for this community.”
Question.- What is your assessment of the legislature? Has EH Bildu come close to its objectives?
Answer.- The balance has lights and shadows. It is clear that we have once again shown that we are capable of reaching agreements that have redounded to the benefit of all Navarrese men and women. The shadows are the lack of ambition that there has been on the part of the Executive in addressing public policies consistent with public services, in linguistic matters and in advancing in self-government.
In all negotiations one goes as far as one can go and where we have been able to be decisive, which is in budgetary matters, the one that has come out on top is the citizenry and this makes us happy.
Q.- What is your objective for these elections?
R.- To continue being more and more decisive, we are necessary to establish alternative forces to the policies of the right and in any case in 2015 a change began and now our objective is to enter a new phase in which the right does not mark the pace or step to the Government.
Q.- What do your surveys tell you?
A.- Surveys are surveys and we take them as such, but it is true that they show that EH Bildu is a rising value and that we are going to have more and more weight.
Q.- Are you going to allow the current government formula while UPN continues to govern in Pamplona?
A.- It is clear that the only option that guarantees an alternative government to the right in the City Council of Iruña is that Joseba Asiron is mayor. We have a real opportunity to be the first force in Iruña and a challenge to achieve it. If the PSN does what it says it is going to do, that is, score another Esporrín, as happened four years ago, people will have to know that voting for the PSN is giving away the government to the right in Iruña.
Q.- And voting for EH Bildu is giving the Government of Navarra to the PSN?
R.- On May 28, the people will speak, that will be the best survey, we will see where the Navarrese put each one of us. After that and based on that, we will talk, because we will have to talk.
Q.- Is EH Bildu going to put being part of the Government as a condition?
A.- Euskal Herria Bildu works based on content, based on priorities, which are very clear to us: strengthening public services, advancing in linguistic rights, advancing in self-government and this is what will focus the course of EH Bildu and all our option.
Q.- Four years ago they prioritized leaving Navarra Suma out of decision making, is it enough four years later?
A.- Whenever we are decisive, we promote alternative governments to the right. They are not words, they are facts because we have been doing it. Others can’t tell. This government formula has presented cracks, we have to say it and there are many examples that I could give, and there has been a lack of ambition to definitively leave behind the right, which on some occasions has set the pace of this government.
The new stage that must be opened without a doubt has to be a new phase without the right wing setting the pace as has happened with the PAI, the Law of Symbols, language policy… stop complexes and look in the rear-view mirror to the right .
Q.- For this, do you consider it key to enter the Government?
A.- It is what I was saying, after May 28 we will see what position each group is in. We think that people have understood the work that I have developed in recent years, they have understood that when Bildu agrees on laws or decides what wins is the citizenship and based on that when the elections are over we will talk at length.
Q.- Would your voters endorse staying out of the Government and the Pamplona City Council again, while they make Chivite president?
A.- I think that the membership of EH Bildu, which is a community, is very cohesive, it is also very critical, contradictions are worked on, debated, the debates are constructive and I think that all the decisions that EH Bildu has adopted in the recent years have been taken jointly.
Q.- I have asked you in various ways and I am going to try again, will EH Bildu demand to enter the Government or the Pamplona Mayor’s Office to make Chivite president?
A.- I also repeat that we work based on clear content and priorities and that this is what will mark our roadmap.
Q.- EH Bildu has become the center of the debate, how do you live it from within?
A.- It is indisputable that different political forces want to continually talk about EH Bildu because they do not have a political project for this community and because their only obsession and concern is to govern Navarra again. Fortunately, we think that every day they are further from this, we trust that this is the case and that our role is decisive for it.
Q.- Where can your party get votes?
A.- Our potential can come from the fact that the concerns that EH Bildu has are those of the social majority in Navarra and I think that it has remained in sight. We aspire to much more, I think we have a lot of potential and that we are a long way from reaching our ceiling.