15 Candidatures Validated for CASS Council Elections in Andorra, Up 20%

Fifteen candidatures have been validated for the CASS administration council elections set for 17 June, representing a 20% increase from the 12 lists in 2022.

CASS president Marc Galabert confirmed the figure on Tuesday, noting the lists as diverse, with some mixed or entirely composed of women or men. Of the total, seven come from the salaried workers' college, five from pensioners, and three from entrepreneurs and self-employed workers.

The breakdown shows a drop in salaried candidatures from 10 to 7, while pensioners' lists rose from one to five and entrepreneurs' from one to three. Galabert linked the overall growth to public concern over pension system reform, calling it a legitimate interpretation amid ongoing debates on pensions and healthcare challenges, recently highlighted by the IMF.

The salaried candidates are Miquel Àngel Adran Garcia (substitute: Rosa Alonso Pallé), Mercè Avellanet Viladomat (Anna Boada Pladellorens), Anna Maria Carrion Tor (Maria Teresa González Fuentes), Maria Neus Cervera Pallejà (Manel Adran Nieto), Salustià Chato Cipres (Celia Realp Juarez), Montserrat Martinez Vecina (Natalia Caelles Jove), and Ramon Pedrosa Parra (Juan Parra Belmonte).

Pensioners' lists feature Ignasi Arbusà Gusi (Anna Teresa Galbe López), Pere Canturri Campos (Maria Auxiliadora Armengol Fàbrega), José Garcia Nebot (Ramon Maria Oliva Cuscullola), Florenci Pla Altisent (Silvia Ortega Montsant), and Lluís Ramon Samper Pascual (Rosa Alcobé Magre).

Entrepreneurs and self-employed candidates include Daniel Armengol Bosch (Francesc Pallàs Viladomat), Manuel Carranza Ferrer (Òscar Enrique Becerra Cremidis), and Alejandro Llige Puig (Alexandre Ballestà Alias).

The elections will renew four of the council's eight seats, the others appointed by government. Elected members' scope remains limited by decrees published in the BOPA.

With an electoral roll of 89,358—47,055 salaried and equivalents, 20,548 pensioners, 21,755 entrepreneurs/self-employed—voting is open to non-Andorran nationals and casual workers. Some individuals may vote in multiple colleges based on status.

Past turnout has been low: around 3% in 2022 and a high of 5% in 2018. Galabert expressed hope the extra lists and efforts like social media promotion could lift participation modestly.

Voting occurs all day on 17 June at CASS headquarters. Deposit voting runs 8-16 June at CASS and itinerantly in parishes: Canillo (8th), Encamp and Pas de la Casa (9th), Ordino (10th), La Massana (11th), Andorra la Vella (12th), Sant Julià de Lòria (15th), Escaldes-Engordany (16th), mornings from 8am to 2:45pm (1pm in Escaldes).

Campaigning starts 6 June, ends 15 June, with 16 June as reflection day but deposit voting allowed. Accessibility measures include easy-read documents with pictograms online and adapted ballots for visual or hearing impairments. Process costs are estimated at €60,000.