Andorran Leaders Unveil Rules for Binding EU Association Referendum

Andorran government leaders from the State Pact on the EU association agreement, including Prime Minister Xavier Espot, have approved regulations for a politically binding referendum on the deal, ensuring it will occur either before or after the next general elections but never alongside them.

The rules, developed under the Qualified Law on the Electoral Regime and Referendum and approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, replicate procedures from ordinary general elections to provide familiar safeguards. Eligible Andorran citizens aged 18 and over on the electoral roll can vote in person, by judicial mail, judicial deposit, or delegation at designated parish polling stations. Ballots will offer "Yes," "No," or blank options on a single question about the agreement, with the government and General Council setting the date and wording.

Espot, joined by Democrats parliamentary leader Jordi Jordana and Progressistes-SDP representative Jaume Bartumeu, presented the draft at an event that day. He stressed the commitment, saying no time or resources would have been invested if there were any intention to back out. Bartumeu, whose party previously opposed a referendum during the last elections, now views skipping it as a political mistake and prefers holding it before the polls if possible.

Jordana noted his party's decade-long push for public input on such a significant accord, making any reversal hard to justify. Both emphasized separating the referendum from election campaigns, with Espot adding that simultaneous efforts would be unfeasible. If time runs short toward the end of the legislature, the next executive would take it up.

The timing remains uncertain, tied to the European Parliament's pending vote after Brussels' chamber approval. Espot indicated the agreement might slip from September to early October due to schedules and called for intensified public communication starting next month to explain the contents—requiring sufficient preparation time, though not the initially mentioned six months. Voter groups can join the 10- to 15-day campaign by collecting signatures from 0.5% of the census.

Concòrdia parliamentary leader Cerni Escalé affirmed his party would call the vote within six months of winning elections if it has not occurred. He criticized the mid-summer presentation on 30 July, suggesting it could have happened sooner.

Though lacking legal force, the politically weighty rules cover electoral boards, polling agents, scrutiny, and result proclamations, mirroring national polls for broad participation. No firm date has been set.