Andorra's AG Urges Faster Hiring and Judicial Reforms Amid Prosecutor Shortages

At the Opening of the Judicial Year ceremony, Andorra's Attorney General Xavier Sopena called for faster processes to fill vacant deputy prosecutor positions, warning that shortages are straining the justice system. He noted the Public Prosecutor's Office currently has one attorney general and seven deputies, down from one and nine two years ago, with three long-vacant posts still open. Sopena stressed the need to protect career paths for deputies and batlles to retain experienced talent, avoiding new incompatibilities that could limit promotions from prosecutors to judges or vice versa.

Sopena also urged reforms to make the Code of Criminal Procedure more efficient, including expanding offences eligible for conformity agreements and rapid trials to speed up cases. He highlighted progress on Penal Code changes to criminalise private-sector corruption—enabling UN and Council of Europe conventions—and to bar animal abusers from ownership. Better international cooperation, including asset-sharing with foreign jurisdictions and Eurojust ties, was another priority.

Josep Maria Rossell, president of the Superior Council of Justice (CSJ), responded that selection processes must follow established procedures precisely, citing a recent generational turnover at the Tribunal de Corts that has delayed hires. He reported the CSJ received one suggestion and 51 complaints in 2025—10 fewer than in 2024—mostly about procedural delays. Inspections at the Batllia and Tribunal de Corts aim to fix structural issues, while a new judicial activity module, launched last June, will soon provide workload data for better decisions.

Justice and Interior Minister Ester Molné announced the government plans to submit Penal Code amendments to parliament next month and a package on criminal procedure plus organisational measures by June. This includes clarifying competencies: the CSJ would manage judges, batlles, prosecutors and core judicial resources, while support staff like receptionists, archivists and maintenance workers shift to government oversight. Molné agreed on balancing incompatibilities without hindering careers and is cautiously studying new judicial police units amid human resource constraints. A technical meeting with the CSJ is slated for next week to finalise details.

Rossell welcomed the timeline as "very good news," saying it incorporates most CSJ proposals and will provide tools to tackle bottlenecks, though full resolution will take time and discipline. Concourses are underway for three new batlles and three deputy prosecutors.