Andorra's General Council Finalizes Reforms to Standing Orders

Andorra's General Council working group held its final in-person meeting on Friday to close out proposed reforms to the chamber's standing orders, incorporating amendments from all parliamentary groups.

Councillors now have until early May to review the consensus document. The plan calls for registering the final text in the first half of the month ahead of a full session vote, with approval targeted for May. This would enable the changes to take effect before the government's political orientation debate on 29 and 30 June, creating space—up to a week—for negotiating agreement proposals rather than an immediate post-debate vote.

Key updates include renaming inquiry committees as "investigation" committees. Refusing to appear or giving false testimony will become offences carrying "important" penalties, outlined in the standing orders and enacted through amendments to the Penal Code amid its current reform. The package preserves the 1993 regulations' core structure while advancing three priorities for a more modern framework: enhanced transparency in chamber operations and councillors' activities (excluding interest group rules, pending transparency law changes); stronger operational protections, including parliamentarians' information rights and committee procedures; and clearer role definitions with greater oversight for council bodies.

These reforms continue a pattern of adaptations, following the 2019 comprehensive revision, 2020 pandemic protocols, and the 2022 creation of a permanent pensions committee. Sources describe the measures as steps toward greater efficiency and alignment with current parliamentary demands.