Andorra Delegation at Ibero-American Forum Urges AI Rules, Fights Populism and Gender Gap

A delegation from Andorra's Consell General, led by Síndic General Carles Ensenyat, participated in the 12th Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum in Madrid on Thursday and Friday. The event, a precursor to the Ibero-American Summit of heads of state and government, sought to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, safeguard regional democratic principles, and foster collaboration on global geopolitical challenges.

Organised at Spain's Congress of Deputies and Senate, discussions revolved around four key themes: artificial intelligence's influence on legislative bodies, the risks posed by polarisation, disinformation, fragmentation, and populism to democracy, efforts to reduce gender inequality in parliaments and society, and the role of parliamentary diplomacy.

Andorra, a member of the Ibero-American Community since 2005, sent a team including conselleres generals Berna Coma, Carine Montaner, Laia Moliné, and Núria Segués. In a plenary session at the Congress reviewing working group conclusions, Ensenyat stressed that AI cannot replace legislators, lacking the ability to deliberate, represent citizens, or create political legitimacy. He called for clear regulations on its limits and related responsibilities.

Addressing polarisation and populism, Ensenyat highlighted parliaments' essential place in constitutional systems, advocating for greater transparency, citizen proximity, and cross-party agreements. On gender equality, he argued for actions beyond parity in representation, including adequate funding and institutional reforms to ensure laws translate into real change.

Ensenyat described parliamentary diplomacy as a natural complement to governmental efforts, with delegations agreeing to enhance it through permanent cooperation structures and improved coordination.

The Andorrans attended all four Senate working sessions on Thursday—one of the few delegations to propose amendments to the conclusions, all accepted by the secretariat and other participants. Montaner spoke on AI use and regulation; Segués on polarisation, disinformation, fragmentation, and populism; Moliné on closing gender gaps; and Coma, chair of the Foreign Policy Legislative Commission, on parliamentary diplomacy's particular importance to Andorra.