Rosa Gili Details Challenges Opposing DA Dominance in Escaldes-Engordany

Rosa Gili, the current major councilor of Escaldes-Engordany, has described the challenges of leading the parish's opposition against the long-standing dominance of Democrats for Andorra (DA) in both national and local politics.

Active in politics since 2009, when she was first elected to the General Council, Gili spent a decade on the front lines challenging DA's hegemony. She recalled particularly tough periods, including the 2011 elections—referred to as the "orange tsunami"—in which DA secured absolute majorities in both national and communal votes. Another blow came in 2013, when then-councilor Jaume Bartumeu left the Social Democratic Party to form Social Democracy and Progress, reducing their group from six to three members.

In her first term as major councilor from 2019 to 2023, Gili faced DA's power almost single-handedly. "DA was still very strong, and the other parishes were either Democrat-led or aligned with them," she said in a recent interview on Diari TV's *Parlem-ne* program. Even when justified, she noted, persistent opposition eroded public confidence, a situation worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gili observed some relief in her current term, as DA has lost ground and some parishes have shifted away from Democrat control, altering the political dynamic. Yet Escaldes remains closely tied to key DA figures, including former major councilor and head of government Toni Martí (2003-2011 nationally, 2011-2019 as head of government) and current head of government Xavier Espot. This history, spanning 25 years of the same leadership, has fueled polarization, she said. Gili expressed concern that some opponents appeared to prioritize her failure over the parish's success, urging politicians to collaborate when needed for the good of Escaldes and Andorra.

One of the most painful moments was her 2021 split from the Social Democratic Party, her political "family," after giving her all during her time on the General Council and in Escaldes. "You expect adversaries not to like you, but issues with your own hurt more," she said, reflecting on incidents that left her wounded. "They told me politics has no friends. Maybe I'm naive, but I thought: why not?"

Gili has no plans to return to national politics, emphasizing her commitment to finishing her current term amid unfinished business in the parish. She ruled out joining the main opposition party, Concòrdia, despite a good personal relationship with its parliamentary leader Cerni Escalé, citing generational and experience gaps. In an increasingly tense political climate, where public scrutiny is relentless, she sometimes questions whether it's worth continuing—but insists disengaging is not the answer.