Vigil in Andorra la Vella Marks Late Dance Instructor's Birthday, Demands Tougher Spanish DUI Laws

Family and friends of Carlos Manuel Miguel Chozo, an Andorran Latin dance instructor killed in a crash in Oliola last October, gathered around 70 strong on Tuesday evening in Plaça Lídia Armengol in Andorra la Vella. The peaceful vigil marked what would have been his 37th birthday and renewed calls for tougher Spanish penalties on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Organized under the banner of opposing "road violence," attendees—including relatives, friends, and community members—demanded stricter laws and true accountability in Chozo's case. They highlighted that the driver, accused of being under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, avoided pretrial detention and has resumed daily routines, including work and bar visits, while the family mourns.

Mònica Miguel Chozo, the victim's sister, spoke to the crowd without a working sound system, voicing outrage over the disparity. "We want real justice: one person carries on with their life... and we haven't had our brother for seven months," she said. She noted that while anyone might face an accident from distraction, impaired driving is unacceptable, and current Spanish penal code provisions—unchanged for nearly three decades—fail to deter it. Harsher penalties, she argued, would make drivers think twice.

The family is seeking a Spanish lawyer to push for legislative reform, though many have declined the case. Their goal is not financial but systemic change to ensure real punishments, as existing ones allow suspects to stay free until a final sentence—and often avoid prison if under two years. They hope to spark debate in Spain and may seek Andorran institutional backing, though no viable legal path exists yet.

A pastor led prayers praising Chozo's joyful spirit, followed by chants, songs, and the release of 37 white balloons—one for each year of his life. Participants wore T-shirts bearing his image and anti-impaired-driving slogans. GSMO officers escorted the event with blue lights.

The crash happened in the early hours of 5 October as Chozo returned from a Barcelona event with his Spanish companion, whose injuries await forensic assessment. The case remains in the final stages of instruction at Balaguer court before transfer to Lleida for trial. No further procedural updates were available.