Andorra Councillor Slams Nursery Fee Hikes as Birth Rate Disincentive
David Astrié denounces PS-Concòrdia government's 2026 nursery fee increases, from €356 to €384 monthly per child, plus scrapping second-child.
Key Points
- Monthly nursery fee rises to €384 (+€28) from Jan 2026, adding €336/year per child.
- 45% discount for second child removed; two-child families face €9,216/year (up 39.1%, +€2,600).
- Astrié calls hikes a birth disincentive, approved 'by the back door' without public scrutiny.
- Highlights Andorra la Vella disputes over family policies amid low birth rates.
David Astrié, a Demòcrates councillor on Andorra la Vella's communal council, has denounced the capital's PS- and Concòrdia-led government for imposing nursery school fee increases starting in 2026, calling the move a disincentive to births and one approved without proper public scrutiny.
In a social media video, Astrié said the ruling majority has added barriers and raised costs, with the nursery school changes standing out most sharply. From January, the monthly fee per child will reach €384, a €28 rise from the previous year and equating to an extra €336 annually per family.
The council has also removed a 45% discount for a second child at the facility. Astrié pointed out that families with two children will now face annual costs of €9,216, up from €6,621 in 2025—an increase of 39.1%, or €2,600 in total.
He accused the government of enacting the hikes "by the back door," bypassing open discussion. The remarks highlight persistent disputes in Andorra la Vella over family policies as the principality grapples with low birth rates. No public response has come from the local government.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: