Andorra Culture Minister Details National Museum Progress, Urges Site Consensus

Culture Minister Mònica Bonell has detailed progress on Andorra's National Museum project, stating that conceptual work will conclude this legislative term to enable an architectural tender in the next. Speaking Thursday at the launch of the Espai Memòria de Ràdio Andorra, she specified the need for a central 4,000-square-metre public site in Andorra la Vella or Escaldes-Engordany to serve as the hub for itineraries to other cultural spaces.

Bonell explained that ministry teams and external experts reviewed over 30 years of studies and proposals, updating them to reflect current perspectives. "We now have more elements than a few months ago," she noted, ushering in a phase of collaboration with parishes and cultural organisations to finalise a consensus-driven plan. She expressed hope that once presented, the project could advance swiftly, becoming a reality "in the near future."

Addressing parish hesitancy, Bonell urged all institutions to unite behind the initiative, regretting that "for many years we have not closed ranks around this project." She pointed out that Andorra la Vella had offered the former bullring site previously, but no parish showed serious commitment before pursuing alternatives like Enclar's multifunctionality complex or the Espai Capital. "If a parish had been truly interested, it might have checked the project's status before other initiatives," she added.

The comments follow Head of Government Xavier Espot's remarks earlier this week in the political orientation debate, where he regretted a missed opportunity under former Andorra la Vella councillor Conxita Marsol to develop land near government buildings—now earmarked for Enclar's project amid housing pressures. Espot called on opposition parties to secure sites from aligned parishes.

Opposition responses stayed measured. Escaldes-Engordany's Rosa Gili highlighted limited land availability on Wednesday. Andorra la Vella has prioritised its own plans absent a firm government proposal. Social Democrat leader and former Culture Minister Susanna Vela accused successive Democrat-led governments of 20 years of "deliberate neglect," rejecting parish blame as "excuses from bad payers." She advocated using Andorra Telecom's publicly owned Node site, criticising priorities given to the Thyssen Museum with unclear links to Andorran identity. "If they really want it, do it there and stop making excuses," Vela said Thursday, insisting on a concrete plan first. "There has never been a will to push it forward."