Andorra General Council Reviews 2026 Budget Amendments Amid Rejections

The General Council's Finance Commission has begun reviewing amendments to the 2026 budget, with 15 of the 61 proposals rejected by the Sindicatura for failing to comply with parliamentary rules. The text is slated for a full plenary vote on 22 January, leaving just two weeks for debate.

A total of 61 amendments were submitted: 23 from Demòcrates (DA), 19 from Concòrdia, 10 from the Partit Socialdemòcrata (PS), and nine from Ciutadans Compromesos (CC). Andorra Endavant (AE), led by Carine Montaner, submitted proposals but missed the deadline despite requesting four extensions—the last two alone—resulting in their exclusion.

The rejected amendments include six from DA and six from CC targeting the budget of the Data Protection Agency (APDA). Submitted at the request of new director Jèssica Obiols to adjust allocations prepared under her predecessor Resma Punjabi, these sought to fund items like books, publications, translations, and postal services by selling the agency's unused vehicle. Sindicatura ruled this impermissible, as disposing of public assets requires a separate procedure, invalidating the revenue and linked expenses.

The PS saw three amendments barred: one mandating inflation (IPC) adjustments for all salaries, deemed a change to labour law outside budget scope; another directing the government to study implementing the Planet Youth programme for 2026-2031; and a third slashing Andorra Turisme's budget to boost the relevant ministry's allocation.

The process has faced multiple setbacks, including repeated extension requests that began with the budget's submission by Finance Minister Ramon Lladós on 23 October. Initial deadlines for partial amendments were 26 November, extended twice to 31 December, then to 5 January at 9:30am following AE's solo plea.

Meanwhile, the Economy legislative commission started examining 44 amendments to the second omnibus bill—formally the law on continuity and consolidation of sustainable growth measures. These cover immigration, foreign investment, and trade changes, such as doubling the tax on real estate foreign investment, tightening passive residence and self-employment permit requirements, introducing taxation for Andorrans abroad, and removing the five-month wait for seasonal permits via regulation.

Majority sources emphasise urgency, as the bill advanced via emergency procedure, but with the 22 January plenary focused on the budget, approval this month appears tight. Nineteen amendments come from DA and one from CC, with 13 from AE, eight from Concòrdia, and four from PS. Further meetings are set for next week, potentially pushing the vote to March's new session period.

If timelines hold, the budget could take effect mid-February, wrapping nearly three months of parliamentary scrutiny marred by procedural errors.