Andorra CASS Elections Kick Off Amid Efforts to Boost Dismal Turnout

Elections for Andorra's CASS board of administration got underway on Monday, with deposit voting available until June 16 ahead of polling day on June 17. Over 47,000 eligible affiliates across the salaried workers, pensioners, and employers/self-employed colleges can select four representatives from 15 candidacies in the country's only vote open to non-citizens with rights in these groups.

Low turnout persists as a key hurdle following the record 2.92% participation in 2022—around 2,200 votes from roughly 76,000 affiliates—compared to 5.34% in 2018. An Altaveu survey captured widespread unawareness of the process alongside daily gripes over slow in-person procedures, repeated trips due to faulty prior appointments, and pension sustainability doubts. CASS has rolled out mobile ballot boxes to boost engagement: Ordino on Monday, Encamp and Pas de la Casa on Tuesday, Canillo on Wednesday, La Massana on Thursday, Andorra la Vella on Friday, Sant Julià de Lòria on June 15, and Escaldes-Engordany on June 16. Deposit voting operates from 8am to 2:45pm until June 15, shortening to 1pm on the final day. Electronic voting remains unavailable under current law.

This year features fewer lists than before, with public employees leading the seven salaried candidacies, while five compete for pensioners and three for employers/self-employed. Salaried hopefuls Miquel Àngel Adrán, Anna Carrión, Neus Cervera, Salustià Chato, Montserrat Martínez, and Ramon Pedrosa committed in Altaveu video interviews to weekly meetings with affiliates. They raised concerns over board balance amid perceived government dominance and pushed for streamlined digital processes that accommodate the less tech-savvy. Medical candidates, such as Mercè Avellanet, provided written replies instead of videos, citing format preferences.

Anna Carrión, with Maria Teresa González as alternate for non-public salaried workers, emphasized diverse labor representation under varying regulations. Her platform calls for regular updates and consultations, CPI-linked pension indexing (doubled for low earners), reserve fund improvements, widows' pension changes, full third-party payer implementation, and no service cuts. She linked fewer lists to union backing of public nominees and pledged outreach via talks, social media, and press to exceed 3% turnout, noting unaware affiliates during signature drives.

Among pensioners, two-term former board member Lluís Samper, backed by Rosa Alcobé and the Federation of Andorran Seniors, described the vote as pivotal for social security's future. Proposals include annual extraordinary pension payments to counter inflation and living costs, protecting the Retirement Reserve Fund from low-yield state loans, minimum and maximum pension caps to fix disparities—where 40-year contributors receive less than non-contributory minimum-wage equivalents—mandatory retirement at 65 for generational renewal, higher healthcare co-payments or contributions, and exact-dose drug dispensing. Samper called CASS projections speculative, criticized unfulfilled no-appointment promises despite ministerial assurances, and plans weekly pensioner sessions.

Incumbent Montserrat Martínez, with Natàlia Caelles as alternate, seeks continuity to advance open issues like universal third-party payer rollout and rethinking the underperforming referring doctor and priority pathway systems. She highlighted past gains in attention and processes but stressed ongoing needs for affiliate proximity and information on rights.

For employers/self-employed, Daniel Armengol, with Francesc Pallàs as alternate, aims to ensure pension reforms preserve business viability. Priorities encompass greater transparency, efficiency to safeguard public health, stronger self-employed voices—potentially via a dedicated board seat—and avoiding blanket fee hikes. He urged participation, noting 80,000 potential voters, and advocated digital and proxy voting alongside a single window for 60,000 monthly business declarations.

Altaveu is airing daily video capsules on CASS operations, healthcare costs, and pensions, with medical candidates opting out of audiovisual formats. Candidates and CASS highlight the vote's importance for shaping reforms amid public pressures and AR+I polls signaling unease.