Andorra Councillor Slams Nursery Fee Hike as Cover-Up, Demands Budget Revote

David Astrié, Demòcrates councillor and opposition leader in Andorra la Vella, has dismissed council explanations for a published €384 monthly nursery fee at Guarderia Conxita Mora as a cover-up rather than a mistake, renewing calls for a revote on the 2026 budget and pricing ordinances.

In a social media video on Monday, Astrié criticised the PS-Concòrdia majority for hiking prices "through the back door" without informing families, accusing them of discouraging births. He pointed to the €384 rate—€28 above 2025's €356.25, adding €336 annually per child—and the elimination of the 45% sibling discount, raising two-child family costs from €6,621 to €9,216 yearly, a 39.1% jump or €2,600 loss in living standards. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, he cited a December letter to families listing €384, matching the approved ordinance and initial BOPA publication. Astrié argued this was a reaction to Demòcrates scrutiny, not an error, and questioned scrapping a low-use discount: "If few families used it, why remove it?" He warned BOPA corrections could distort budget revenues and urged reviews of Serradells subscriptions, parking, hygiene fees, firewood, property taxes and dog licences—totalling €437 more yearly for a typical Ciutat Valls household with one child, two dogs and those services.

Cònsol Menor Olalla Losada responded Wednesday, blaming a human calculation error in resident discount percentages for nursery, leisure, sports and cultural activities, spotted in early January after family queries—before Astrié's video. The correct full-time resident rate is €363.52 monthly, a 2.5% rise below the 2.7% IPC, or €7.27 extra. Families received notice last week of billing delays to 22 January, with BOPA correction on 21 January. No overcharges happened, approved rates require no revote, and the sibling discount ended to unify reductions—used by only two or three families—with social services exemptions available. The nursery remains 80% subsidised.

Losada rejected cover-up claims, linking the issue to 18 December discount unification, and criticised Astrié's public post without prior contact, causing needless worry. She confirmed a full review found no other errors, stressed openness to opposition input, and suggested he focus on communal rather than national politics. The PS-Concòrdia majority has rejected the revote demand.