Andorra CASS President Urges Immediate Pension Reform Ahead of 2026 Board Elections

Marc Galabert, president of the CASS board, has reiterated the urgent need for pension reform ahead of the social security body's board elections on 17 June 2026, warning that delays are worsening sustainability pressures from demographic changes and healthcare costs.

During a press conference in Andorra la Vella to unveil the election process, Galabert stressed that pension reform and rising healthcare expenses represent the system's core structural challenges. "The best time to reform was yesterday," he said, adding that "every day that passes, the challenge grows larger." He advocated for ongoing adjustments rather than one-off measures, noting that the board has forwarded a 14-measure proposal, complete with impact studies, to the General Council. CASS will maintain its technical role, avoiding policy prescriptions but ready to assist parliamentary committees. Healthcare strains reflect global patterns, including advanced treatments, population ageing, and rising complexity, with recent IMF reports on peer systems offering valuable benchmarks, Galabert noted. The board's strategic plan prioritises efficiency, transparency, bureaucratic streamlining, and better affiliate services, even as expenses continue outpacing revenue and membership growth.

The elections will renew representatives from salaried workers, self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, and pensioners, alongside government appointees. To boost historically low turnout—below 3% in recent years, except 5.34% in 2018—CASS is introducing itinerant deposit voting from 8 to 16 June across the seven parishes and Pas de la Casa, one per day: Canillo (8th), Encamp and Pas de la Casa (9th), Ordino (10th), La Massana (11th), Andorra la Vella (12th), Sant Julià de Lòria (15th), and Escaldes-Engordany (16th). Voters need not reside in the parish, and deposit voting remains available at CASS headquarters. On election day, polls at CASS offices open from 8am to 9pm, with results that evening.

Electoral rolls open for review from 20 to 28 April at CASS offices (8am-2:45pm weekdays), with inscription requests due by 28 April. Candidacies, requiring 100 signatures for salaried workers, 50 for entrepreneurs/self-employed, and 50 for pensioners, close 6 May and go public 21 May. The campaign runs 6-15 June, alongside a CASS social media drive and parish collaborations. Eligible voters include around 45,000 salaried workers, 9,000 self-employed/entrepreneurs, and 12,000 pensioners; individuals may vote in multiple colleges based on status, though only once per college. Candidates must be Andorran residents over 18, with eight years of contributions in the last 10 and five in the relevant college (three months for pensioners), plus clear payment records.

This follows the board's approval of 2025 accounts showing a €34.7 million general branch deficit on €201.7 million revenues (up 7.5%) against €236.4 million expenses (up 7.7%), exceeding the €33.11 million forecast. The retirement branch posted a €29.4 million surplus on €220.6 million revenues (up 8.1%) versus €191.2 million expenses (up 10.9%). Affiliate numbers grew, with salaried workers at 51,539 (+2.2%), self-employed at 9,321 (+6.8%), though general branch pensioners fell 6% to 2,461 and retirement pensioners rose 4.7% to 18,522. The dependency ratio improved slightly to 3.14 active insured per retirement pensioner. Galabert described board service as "intense," enriching understanding of Andorra's socio-economic reality through diverse stakeholder input.