Andorra PS leader Gerard Alís accuses DA of camouflaging party brand before election

Gerard Alís, the Social Democratic Party's (PS) candidate for head of government, has accused the centre-right platform being promoted by Democrats for Andorra (DA) of trying to disguise the party's brand ahead of the next general election. In remarks reported by El Periòdic d'Andorra, Alís questioned why a party governing with an absolute majority would adopt a new electoral formula, linking the decision to the possibility that its record in office could hurt it at the polls. "They sense they no longer have the strength they had, or that the balance sheet of their years in government is very negative for the population. So they hide, they camouflage themselves and they run in a platform," he said.

The PS leader downplayed the name the platform ultimately adopts, arguing that the campaign should be fought over policy proposals rather than party labels. "It is not about changing the initials of those who govern us, but about changing policies. That is what we will have to discuss in the next elections," he said, adding that the PS has its own programme for addressing the country's problems. He called for debate on competing national models, particularly access to housing and purchasing power.

Alís described what he called "the end of a DA cycle," pointing to a contradiction between Andorra's wealth generation and what he characterised as a significant social fracture. He said housing access is among the main difficulties facing citizens and warned that the problem of meeting rental costs no longer affects only those with the fewest resources. He referred to residents with incomes who are nonetheless forced to leave the country. "There are Andorrans who have to leave because they cannot live here, and pensioners who, despite receiving a pension, cannot pay the rent. We are living through one of the most important social dramas in the country's history," he said.

On electoral strategy, Alís confirmed that the PS and Concòrdia will run separately on the national list, each with its own programme and candidates, while working to build broad territorial platforms in the parishes. "Concòrdia and the PS will each defend their own project on the national list, but we are working to build broad territorial platforms, with people from each parish who share progressive views and common programme points," he said. He added that the party has been in contact for months with individuals and local political forces across all parishes, aiming for a presence throughout the country, and said no single profile is sought: candidates could be independents, people linked to local formations, or citizens close to the PS or Concòrdia. Housing and pensions are among the areas he identified as a basis for such alliances, citing an expansion of public housing at affordable prices and the possibility of higher levies on speculative property transactions — measures he said the PS shares with Concòrdia.

He acknowledged that differences remain between the two parties, including on the association agreement with the European Union, but argued that disagreements should be handled through negotiation and consensus-building without either side abandoning its programme. He also said the PS is willing to support an alternative government even if it does not lead it. "We hope to lead this government of change, but if citizens consider that we should not head it, we will give the necessary support so that there is a change of government anyway," he said.

Alís placed a referendum on the EU association agreement before the next general election among his priorities, calling for the vote to be held in the first half of December. "We believe it is now a useful moment to submit this text to a referendum. It is an important question of state that requires its own debate and should not be mixed with the general election campaign," he said.