Concòrdia Urges Debate on Parish Election Overhaul Bill

Concòrdia has called on the parliamentary majority of Demòcrates and Ciutadans Compromesos to show "height of vision" by at least allowing initial consideration of its bill to overhaul parish elections, urging debate despite past rejections of its proposals.

The opposition party presented the Qualified Law on the Electoral Regime and Referendum amendment on Monday, ahead of the spring 2027 general elections. It would replace closed parish lists of five—two starters and three substitutes—with individual candidacies supported by parties or citizen groups, limited to two per parish per party. Voters would select two preferred candidates by placing their ballots in the envelope, potentially mixing parties; the top two vote-getters would secure the seats, while the national list remains unchanged. Resignations, often for government roles, would pass to the next-highest parish vote-earner, even from another party. The bill also halves candidacy signature requirements from 0.5% to 0.25% of the electoral roll and requires gender parity.

La Massana councillor Pol Bartolomé described the changes as "surgical," aimed at reversing political disaffection and abstention rates that have fallen from over 80% in the 1990s and 75% in 2011 to just over 60% now—around 50% among young voters. He argued low turnout hands power to a narrow elite, misaligning politics with public interest and undermining legitimacy. The model revives pre-Constitution practices, and Bartolomé proposed Andorra Recerca i Innovació examine historical systems. He added it would create a more representative setup, better matching votes to seats, while discouraging post-election exits to government by awarding vacancies to rivals. Group leader Cerni Escalé emphasised initial consideration opens the door to amendments, insisting the reform transcends partisanship and could strengthen the Consell General by ensuring candidates commit to parliamentary service.

None of Concòrdia's nine prior bills has progressed. At Thursday's Christmas media breakfast, Head of Government Xavier Espot acknowledged the debate's value but stressed "prudence, humility, and common sense" for altering the Constitution's consensus model, which has delivered stability and leading-list governance for over 30 years. He pledged constructive review but said the government would support it only if it demonstrably outperforms the current system—"difficult to improve"—and noted cross-party talks early in the term, via a parliamentary commission analysing the full electoral framework, would have been more productive than a unilateral media launch nearing elections. Responding to Concòrdia's "height of vision" plea, Espot affirmed the majority's openness while questioning the timing.

Opposition parties PS and Andorra Endavant agree abstention demands action but oppose individual candidacies. PS leader Susanna Vela favours proportional seat allocation over open lists, which she sees risking "caciquil" localism; her group backs initial consideration for amendments drawing on past work like electronic voting. Andorra Endavant leader Carine Montaner prefers intra-party open lists to empower voters within clear programmes, criticising Concòrdia's approach for fragmenting into individualities without coherent direction.