Ciutadans Compromès Slams Government's Hasty Housing Crisis Response

Jordi Verdaguer, president of Ciutadans Compromès (CC), has described the government's initial handling of the housing crisis as overly hasty, driven by anxiety following large-scale protests.

In an interview with *Diari d'Andorra*, Verdaguer reflected on CC's parliamentary pact with Liberals, which he traced back to longstanding ideological alignment between their councillors, including Liberals' Joan Pintos. He stressed that the arrangement remains a parliamentary group agreement, with no formal electoral pact planned. While open to future point-by-point collaborations, he ruled out any discussions with Acció, citing deep policy differences and aggressive campaign tactics from recent elections. "There is still some reluctance," he said, despite changes in Acció's leadership.

Positioning CC as a centre-right force, Verdaguer highlighted challenges in aligning with left-leaning parties like the Socialists (PS) or Concòrdia. He noted Andorra Endavant’s insistence on running alone, leaving broader centre-right alliances for election-time decisions. In La Massana, CC plans to contest the next territorial elections independently, prioritising local success over national expansion. Verdaguer cautioned against rapid growth beyond their stronghold, referencing Terceravia's poor results outside Sant Julià de Lòria.

Within the current governing majority alongside Demòcrates d'Andorra (DA), CC has sought to steer policies rightward. Verdaguer specifically criticised the precipitate response to housing protests, which rattled officials unaccustomed to such demonstrations. "We would not have reacted after a weekend," he said, advocating a more measured approach—like letting a stew improve with time. He credited CC and some DA councillors with later refinements.

Looking ahead, Verdaguer anticipates CC could shift to opposition if the next legislature tilts left but pledged support for stable, centre-right governance. CC, he emphasised, is no one's "white-label" party, maintaining independence despite past pacts with DA or Liberals.