CC Splits from Demòcrates for La Massana Elections Amid Housing De-Freezing Push

Carles Naudi, leader of the Ciutadans Compromesos (CC) parliamentary group, has confirmed the party will contest the La Massana parish elections independently, severing pre-electoral ties with Demòcrates due to repeated local disputes with Acció.

Speaking on Diari TV's *Parlem-ne* programme, Naudi cited three recent council confrontations with Acció in La Massana as the primary barrier, despite solid national collaboration with Acció leader Marc Magallón. CC rejects serving as Demòcrates' local stand-in, favouring ideological alignment and durable majorities over vote calculations. Post-election pacts remain possible if underlying issues are addressed, as running alone allows greater policy flexibility.

On the national stage, Naudi proposed a centre-right liberal platform—potentially pre- or post-general elections—to guide the next government should Demòcrates prevail. He described politics dividing into a radicalising left and a centre-right space with overlapping goals, noting initial exploratory discussions. Demòcrates' territorial strength positions it to nominate a head-of-government candidate, but Naudi insisted on prior programme consensus, possibly around an external figure like former politician Ladislau Baró, whom he rated a "ten out of ten" for his consensus skills and experience.

Relations with Demòcrates and Liberals stay cordial, while Acció ties are strained by parish frictions. Naudi placed CC squarely in the centre-right, defending free markets and national traditions unapologetically. He ruled out left-wing wins by PS or Concòrdia, citing their radical positions and weak national footing. Economic common ground exists with Andorra Endavant leader Carine Montaner, whom he called hardworking and sharp, but her opposition to the EU association accord blocks broader cooperation.

Naudi advocated a uniform 15% IGI on luxury goods to lure premium brands, bypassing 1990s 900-euro travel allowances that erode competitiveness. For the EU accord referendum, he urged 18 months of public information campaigns to foster informed votes.

**Housing de-freezing plan advances amid tenant group warnings**

The government plans to table its rent de-freezing legislation by year-end, with implementation starting 1 January 2027 on the oldest contracts. Head of Government Xavier Espot and Housing Minister Conxita Marsol detailed a staggered rollout by contract age and current rents per square metre, featuring "surgical" moderate increases. Safeguards will block owners from steeper hikes via new tenants post-extension, tying rises to renewals for sitting occupants. Espot stressed indefinite freezes deter private supply; the ministry has issued 300 letters to owners of 1,800 vacant flats, expecting analysis in three to four months.

Naudi endorsed balanced de-freezing from 2027, with restrained rises on long-term low-rent units to near market rates, while limiting hikes on higher-rent properties to retain tenants.

Demand for affordable units remains acute: Housing logged 44 applications for 22 flats at Encamp's former Hermus hotel. Unsold Arinsal flats may go to essential workers like doctors if general needs subside.

The Coordinadora per l’Habitatge Digne, soon rebranding as Sindicat d’Habitatge d’Andorra for parish-level organising, threatened escalated 2026 protests surpassing 2023 if the plan ignores its core demands. These encompass Swiss-model indefinite contracts as standard (temporaries for transients), reference price indexes for abusive rents, impartial mediation, collective bargaining, no evictions without alternatives, closing the "trampa del fill" loophole, and occupancy caps on tourist flats via habitability certificates. The group accused the government of delay if National Housing Table contributions are sidelined, and called on real estate groups to drop threat-laden resistance. Absent structural reforms, it predicted a tenant crisis. Espot countered that the approach serves the general interest, rejecting both property owners' 30% hike calls and indefinite extensions.