Andorra Approves Draft Law to Buy Land for Prison Expansion

The Andorran government has approved a draft extraordinary credit law to acquire a 1,782.97-square-metre plot on the Serrat Blanc estate, adjacent to the boundary wall of the La Comella Penitentiary Centre. Justice and Interior Minister Ester Molné proposed the measure, which aims to enable future expansions such as a dedicated mental health module and additional spaces for social reintegration activities.

Approved during Wednesday's Council of Ministers meeting, the initiative will now proceed to the General Council for parliamentary debate and possible approval. Officials describe it as fulfilling an action plan to maintain dignified and functional conditions for both inmates and staff, addressing anticipated needs proactively rather than any immediate capacity issues.

Molné had previously outlined the proposal in early April to the General Council's Justice, Interior and Institutional Affairs legislative commission. She highlighted the progressive and significant increase in inmates with mental health conditions, which currently requires partial use of the youth module for such care—a setup deemed insufficient. The new facilities would enhance multidisciplinary support from nursing, psychology and psychiatry teams, while allowing incarceration regimes tailored to those needs.

The expansion would also provide more room for rehabilitation programmes, as current spaces cannot accommodate all demands in this area. The agreed price totals €275,000, with €260,000 covering the land and the balance allocated to taxes and formalisation costs. The government and property owner reached this pact, and authorities emphasise that the centre faces no overpopulation or urgent pressures, framing the purchase as forward planning.