Andorra's Espot Rejects Combining EU Referendum with Elections

Andorra's head of government, Xavier Espot, has ruled out holding the referendum on the association agreement with the European Union at the same time as the general elections.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday during Escaldes-Engordany's main festival after the Santa Anna Ball, Espot said the vote should take place before the elections if the schedule allows, or be postponed until afterward to avoid overlap. "If the referendum cannot be held before the elections, it will have to be held afterward and not mixed with them," he said.

Espot noted that the EU issue would dominate the election campaign regardless of timing. He called on political parties to show responsibility, stressing that the agreement concerns Andorra's long-term future rather than short-term electoral gains. "This is not an issue for the next elections; we are playing for Andorra's future, for many years ahead," he remarked.

The comments come a week after the EU's Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) unanimously approved the association agreement text for Andorra and San Marino. The move unblocks the process following over two years of review in the Council of the EU, confirming the agreement's mixed nature. It now heads to the Council for formal signature approval, with all 27 member states, the EU, Andorra, and San Marino required to ratify it.

Espot has previously indicated that signature could occur in September, followed by ratification. Andorra's government plans a consultative referendum after European Parliament approval. A favourable outcome would then require a two-thirds qualified majority in the Consell General.

Espot reiterated plans to exhaust the current legislative term, with elections on their regular schedule and the referendum date adjusted accordingly. He avoided specifying a date, citing repeated delays in Brussels, but emphasised keeping the processes separate.

During the event, Espot grew emotional, suggesting it was likely his last such festival appearance in office and warning that any failure to form a new government by then would signal major problems.