Andorra's Espot: Abortion Legalization Impossible Without Institutional Overhaul

Andorra's head of government, Xavier Espot, has reiterated that legalising abortion within the country remains highly challenging without changing the principality's institutional framework. Speaking on Catalunya Ràdio's *Ja m'entens* podcast, Espot stressed the need to balance rights expansions with Andorra's co-principality system, where one co-prince is the Bishop of Urgell.

He described abortion as a "delicate" issue tied to a Catholic Church dogma of faith, unlike equal marriage, which gained a co-prince's countersignature. "If we want to maintain our system, it is very difficult for abortions to be performed in Andorra," Espot said. The government is pursuing a "point of equilibrium" through public accompaniment, ensuring women can access the procedure safely abroad under excellent public health conditions, without performing it locally.

Espot highlighted Andorra's progress on LGBTQ+ rights, noting the country as the 33rd worldwide to approve equal marriage in 2023, building on 2014 civil unions that included adoption rights during his time as justice minister. He expressed pride in these steps, saying they would bring satisfaction in retrospect. Andorra has shifted from a more closed society to one that is "relatively liberal in the positive sense," respecting individual freedoms.

Reflecting personally, Espot recalled publicly stating his gay orientation before a 2023 RTVA interview, describing it as unremarkable and not a "coming out." He welcomed its role in normalising the reality and showing professional success is possible regardless of sexual orientation. Reactions surprised him, with some viewing it as unnecessary exposure of privacy, though he saw it differently.

He praised local activism, from the 2000s group *Som com som* to current ones like Diversand and Horitzons, for driving irreversible change. Espot noted global polarisation, with advances in some nations and setbacks elsewhere, including conservative shifts among youth on diversity, immigration and women. Andorra continues progressing, including 2025 measures for medical accompaniment, hormone therapy and gender transition surgery in the public health system.

On online platforms like OnlyFans, he defended recent toughening of laws, targeting profiteering interactions as modern exploitation rather than the platforms themselves.