The regional party Geroa Bai on 9 September 2026 called on the President of the Government of Navarra, María Chivite, and the Partido Socialista de Navarra to disclose immediately the documents relating to claims for additional payments at the BelateTunnel. The call follows an unfavourable report by the Asesoría Jurídica del Gobierno de Navarra and objections from the Intervención General to Modificado número 1, which lists additional payments to the consortium carrying out the work, UTE as it is known.
Geroa Bai described the situation as “very worrying” and called for political explanations “given the significance of this strategic project for Navarra”. The documents cited so far refer to around eight million euros listed in the amendment document as eligible for payment; the Intervención General had already issued a reparo suspensivo in December 2025. According to the regional administration, the Asesoría Jurídica questions the legal basis for the proposed payments.
The Gobierno de Navarra says it will “not pay for anything that has no legal cover”, while also working on solutions to ensure that construction can continue. The duplication of the Belate Tunnel is considered a safety measure for the regional transport link between Pamplona and the Basque border; work has been under way since 2024 and, according to the administration, remains on schedule.
The heart of the dispute is whether the UTE is entitled to additional payment for work that was subsequently changed or extended, and whether this entitlement was correctly documented in Modificado número 1. Geroa Bai is calling for access to all preparatory documents, a detailed explanation of the disputed items and a clear allocation of political responsibility. The party announced that it would raise the issue in the Parlamento de Navarra and request hearings.
Politically, the dispute is putting pressure on Navarra’s governing coalition, as the criticism is directed particularly at the part of the government led by the Partido Socialista de Navarra. A definitive assessment will depend on the binding opinions of the Asesoría Jurídica and the Intervención General, as well as the Gobierno de Navarra’s decision on how to proceed.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).