Andorra Parish Leaders Slam Housing Minister for Skipping Consultations on Incentives

Sergi González, cònsol major of Andorra la Vella, and Cerni Cairat, his counterpart in Sant Julià de Lòria, have voiced surprise at Housing Minister Conxita Marsol's announcement of fiscal incentives for private developers to build affordable rental housing, claiming parish councils were not consulted despite earlier promises.

Marsol unveiled the draft bill on Wednesday, including exemptions from parish-level construction taxes and fees. She described the measures as jointly developed, but González said parish leaders learned of the details only through the public announcement. He recalled a June meeting in La Massana where officials pledged a working group to assess impacts on each parish's distinct regulations—a step that never occurred.

Both leaders support the incentives amid Andorra's housing crisis but stressed the need for prior discussion. "We're all in agreement with the measure, especially given the scale of the housing problem, but we must talk it over first," González said. Cairat echoed the frustration, arguing the episode underscores the urgency of formalising regular cònsol meetings to provide input during bill drafting. "This shows how vital an alliance among the parishes is," he said, adding it would prevent further surprise press conferences.

González suggested the timing might relate to Andorra la Vella's newly unveiled urban planning scheme on Tuesday, which prioritises affordable housing. "I don't know if someone got nervous seeing us take the lead," he remarked. He urged collaboration over competition: "We can't race for headlines—this requires a shared vision to resolve together."

The bill advances under extreme urgency, limiting time for parish input. All cònsols except Escaldes-Engordany backed the concept in June, but local scrutiny will focus on encroachments into communal tax powers.