Andorra Leader Backs Abortion Rights Amid Institutional Hurdles

Andorra's General Syndic, Carles Ensenyat, has reaffirmed his support for women's rights, including abortion, while stressing the heavy influence of the country's institutional system.

Speaking at the launch of the third Secondary and Baccalaureate Debate League at the General Council—centred this year on machismo in society—Ensenyat stated he has long championed all women's rights. "I believe I have always been a defender in achieving women's rights, and that means all women's rights, including abortion," he said, noting this position has appeared in previous speeches and should come as no surprise.

He described advancing these rights as a collective responsibility across all state powers, though Andorra's institutional setup imposes significant constraints. "The institutional system of Andorra weighs heavily," Ensenyat remarked, framing the challenge as consolidating women's rights while ensuring the system's continuity—a task for the General Council, government, and other institutions.

Despite broad rhetorical support for equality, Ensenyat warned that full equality remains elusive in practice and requires further effort. He cited troubling signs, such as increased macho violence and attacks on women in public roles, which indicate a resurgence of issues society believed were receding. This leaves progress on a "fine line" between advances and reversals.

Ensenyat highlighted improvements in political representation since the first post-constitutional legislature, which had just one woman in the General Council and almost no female consuls or ministers. Today, women hold half the Council's seats, half the ministerial and state secretary posts, and key roles in parishes. "The role of women in politics has changed radically over the past 30 years," he said, but cautioned that history is not linear and gains could erode in the next three decades.

He urged public authorities and young people—future voters and lawmakers—to safeguard and build on equality. The General Council will host an institutional event on March 2, during International Women's Day week, where all female politicians (parish councillors, consuls, state secretaries, ministers), judicial representatives, and Council members will read a unity manifesto to underscore women's political presence, which would have been unthinkable 30 years ago.

Ensenyat also noted the parliamentary women's network's evolving focus on integrating gender perspectives into legislation beyond language use, including recent training on equality in legislative drafting.