Andorra Rejects Proposal to Prioritise Nationals in Public Housing

The Andorran government has firmly rejected a proposal from opposition party Andorra Endavant to prioritise nationals and long-term residents in the allocation of public rental housing, insisting that such a change would undermine social cohesion.

Housing Minister Conxita Marsol and Head of Government Xavier Espot dismissed the idea during question time at the General Council. Andorra Endavant leader Carine Montaner argued for restricting access to state-subsidised flats to Andorran passport holders or those with at least 10 years of residency. "State flats are few and we need a clear scale," she said, adding that it "breaks my heart" to see Andorrans forced to leave the country because they cannot afford to live here.

Marsol countered that the current system already favours longer-term residents through a points-based process, where five years of residency demonstrates sufficient roots. She noted that nearly 38% of all public housing units awarded so far have gone to Andorran nationals—a proportion the government views as appropriate. Introducing preferences for nationals, she warned, would "break the social cohesion and balance that has sustained our country since the 1950s."

Espot echoed these concerns, questioning the practical fallout: "What will businesses say when they cannot hire workers?" He stressed that Andorra's model requires minimum residency ties scaled to the level of social support, but prioritising nationals outright does not align with the country's prosperity-driven reality. Dismissing the Monaco comparison Montaner cited, he said: "Monaco's model is fine for that country. We do not want to turn Andorra into Monaco, but keep it as it is—and if possible, more prosperous and economically diversified."

Montaner stood firm, declaring: "If we govern, we will give priority to nationals—we must do as in Monaco." The exchange drew criticism from the Social Democratic group, with deputy president Pere Baró accusing her of adopting "discourse typical of Europe's far right." The government has no plans to amend the existing allocation rules.