1,500 March in Andorra Against Government's Rent Decontrol Plans

Around 1,500 people marched peacefully through Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany on Saturday evening, organized by Sindicat d’Habitatge to protest the government's rent decontrol plans ahead of a potential 2027 housing crisis as low-rent contracts expire. The turnout exceeded expectations, drawing families, workers, young people, retirees, and even opposition politicians amid chants expressing frustration over rising costs and evictions.

Gathering began around 7pm at the KM 0 roundabout on Carrer de la Unió, bolstered by morning information pickets at sites facing eviction notices. Numbers grew from 300 at departure near 7:30pm to about 500 along Avinguda Meritxell, surpassing 1,000 on Avinguda Carlemany, Plaça de la Rotonda, and Carrer Prat de la Creu near Andorra Telecom offices. The route ended around 9pm at Rotonda de Govern with a sit-in, applause, chants, and a manifesto reading by spokesperson Rebeca Bonache. A mass sit-down occurred on Avinguda Meritxell, and crowds peaked near the government building.

Chants included “Espot, escolta, el poble és revolta,” “Andorra és casa meva i no vull marxar,” “Especuladors fora d’Andorra,” “Treballem més que mai però vivim pitjor,” “Ni gent sense casa, ni casa sense gent,” “Volem que regulin els lloguers,” and “Govern desperta, el poble està en alerta.” Banners targeted Head of Government Xavier Espot with “Espot tururú, a la Seu te’n vas tu” and Minister Conxita Marsol, alongside “Els vostres beneficis, la nostra misèria” and “Aquest cartell té més metres quadrats que un pis.”

Days before the march, the union delivered an extensive working document to parliamentary majority parties Demòcrates per Andorra (DA) and Ciutadans Compromesos (CC), outlining demands and red lines against what they call the “programmed expulsion law.” Key proposals include extending protections to contracts signed after 2021 expiring in 2027-2030 to avoid unequal treatment; tying rent hikes to objective criteria like property value and purchasing power through a single public reference index, using public housing prices only as an upper limit; banning evictions without dignified, affordable alternatives within Andorra via a pre-2027 anti-eviction mechanism involving government, Institut Nacional de l’Habitatge, communes, and social services; stricter scrutiny of the “trampa del fill” with pre-eviction probes, fraud penalties, indemnities, and re-entry rights or return to market at prior rent plus IPC; closing indirect eviction routes like employee housing claims or sales bypassing tenant protections; linking a property register to a full housing census tracking vacancies and ownership concentration; making indefinite contracts the norm under Llei d’Arrendament de Finques Urbanes; regulating room rentals; and enhancing mediation, arbitration, and coordination via Taula Nacional d’Habitatge.

Bonache described the response as proof collective action succeeds, calling it “now or never” to avert 2027 fallout. She hailed partial inclusion of demands in opposition amendments from Concòrdia and Socialdemòcrata, urging DA and CC—as the majority—to amend the law before final debate. Meetings remain pending due to scheduling issues, but Bonache views the protest as leverage, warning of escalated actions like parish rallies if no verifiable commitments emerge—though border blockades remain impractical. Opposition figures Cerni Escalé, Núria Segués, Pere Baró, and Laia Moliné attended, praising turnout and calling for changes.

Unió Sindical d’Andorra’s Gabriel Ubach demanded wage hikes matching rent rises, especially for €2,000-2,500 units eroding the middle class, a policy reversal, and an EU ties referendum. He blamed government policies for the crisis, noting costs track IPC while wages stagnate, and warned of broader social conflict without alternatives for those at risk.

Earlier, Espot released a video countering “falsehoods,” stating the law allows gradual market transition with protections: from January 2027, only pre-2012 contracts or those below €6 per square meter face changes with six months' notice; renewals limited to 1-6% plus IPC; most tenants unaffected.

No incidents occurred. Traffic halted along the route until 9:30pm; buses paused nationwide 7:30-7:45pm with diversions on L2-L7 via Carretera de l'Obac and Túnel de les Dos Valires. Sunday’s Cursa Illa Carlemany disrupted morning services in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany from 9:45am.