Escaldes-Engordany's finance chief Quim Dolsa urges a temporary stop to foreign inflows to address housing

**Quim Dolsa**, Escaldes-Engordany's *cònsol menor* and finance chief, has urged a temporary halt to foreign investment in Andorra to tackle the housing crisis and redirect national priorities.

In an interview with *Altaveu*, Dolsa defended the parish's financial health two years into a building permit moratorium, which has slashed construction revenue to roughly 10% of its €45 million budget, including reallocated funds. He attributed this stability to delayed projects from the 2018-2019 urban plan and stressed vigilance in Andorra's fragile economy, which has boomed partly on foreign inflows.

Dolsa questioned the value of many new businesses, especially in IT, web design and marketing, which generate tax revenue but often deliver little else. He pointed to a recent failed tender for the parish website, abandoned twice locally despite dozens of such firms registering in Escaldes-Engordany, forcing an international bid. "There is significant lack of control," he said, calling for tighter scrutiny on investment types and operations—many run from private homes. He differentiated retirees seeking residency from genuine investors and inactive setups, arguing the current model worsens housing shortages.

The parish could manage without rampant construction or foreign capital, Dolsa said, allowing moderate growth as Andorra has sustained through past crises, though with leaner budgets. He pushed for a "technical stop" on inflows to ask: "Where are we headed?"—likening the country to "a ship without a captain." He criticised maximum building heights in tower zones, a lack of affordable rentals despite communal incentives, and individualism overriding rules like the moratorium, recalling the unprompted community aid after the 1982 floods.

On infrastructure, priorities lie in maintenance, not new projects. Nearly €600,000 has gone to restore Prat del Roure, with more planned to replace oil heating, alongside work at Caldea parking and the communal building. The parish is acquiring land for future public spaces, avoiding reliance on private operators.

Dolsa called for a societal pivot toward community over self-interest and bluntly labelled DA "part of the problem, not the solution," demanding a major national shift. Authorities have not responded.