Andorra Says Border Blockade Illegal as Housing Union Sets 3 December Deadline

The Andorran government has reiterated that cutting off the border and free-movement areas is illegal, while saying other proposed forms of protest would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Speaking at a press conference after Wednesday's Council of Ministers meeting, government spokesperson Guillem Casal stressed that any demonstration must take place within the existing legal framework. He said that once a formal request is submitted, it will be assessed and a decision taken on how to proceed.

Casal was responding to questions about possible mobilisations by the Sindicat d'Habitatge (SHA) during the Puríssima long weekend. He clarified that Interior Minister Ester Molné had not ruled out the demonstrations outright, but had instead questioned their legality. Free circulation at border crossings, he added, cannot be blocked.

Asked whether a union in Spain's Alt Urgell region might join the action, Casal noted that any procedures on Spanish territory would fall to the authorities there. He repeated that a balance must be struck between the right to protest and the need for the country to keep functioning, particularly with the Puríssima holiday period approaching, and underlined the importance of protecting economic activity without setting aside the right to demonstrate.

On the general strike held across Spain on Wednesday, which caused road blockages in Catalonia, Casal said the disruptions had not led to significant problems in Andorra. He pointed to closures on the N-260, a key route linking the principality with its neighbour, and said there had been no impact beyond the usual. While acknowledging isolated incidents affecting passenger and freight transport, he described the day overall as one of complete normality for the country's operations.

Turning to negotiations with the Sindicat d'Habitatge, Casal rejected the suggestion that the government's position on the group's demands is negative. He said the next step is to receive the document setting out the specific measures the organisation is preparing, which will then be passed to the Institut Nacional de l'Habitatge (INH) so that both the institution and the government can review its contents.

The union has set 3 December as its deadline for reaching a signed agreement and avoiding the border mobilisation announced for the Puríssima period. Before that, it plans to present its detailed proposal this Friday, including the measures it is demanding, the legal routes for applying them and the relevant timelines.