Bilbao-born public law expert, nominated by Episcopal Co-Prince, replaces Josep Lluís Guàrdia and pledges

Víctor Torre de Silva y López de Letona was sworn in as a magistrate of Andorra's Constitutional Court this morning, replacing Josep Lluís Guàrdia whose mandate expired on 24 November. Nominated by the Episcopal Co-Prince, Josep-Lluís Serrano i Pentinat, the Bilbao-born lawyer, born in 1966 and specialised in public law, delivered his oath speech entirely in Catalan.

Torre de Silva pledged his "full and absolute commitment to Andorra, its sovereignty and institutions, subject only to the Constitution and the TC's qualified law." He described the role as a "great honour," thanked Serrano for the appointment and General Syndic Carles Ensenyat for arranging the ceremony at the General Council. The new magistrate paid tribute to Guàrdia, requested support from his TC colleagues—invoking the national motto *Virtus unita fortior*—and vowed to uphold the Constitution, citizens' rights, liberty, justice, democracy and social progress with "complete impartiality," guided solely by law.

Ensenyat, who presided over the event, commended Torre de Silva's career, including roles such as director of the Congress Presidency's office from 1996 to 2000 and undersecretary of defence from 2000 to 2004, often linked to Spain's Partido Popular and figures like Federico Trillo. He stressed that the oath demands "ideological neutrality and jurisdictional independence," with magistrates serving exclusively as a full bench in Andorra's interest, "guided only by the Constitution, laws and general interest," regardless of their appointing authority. Ensenyat called this the system's "essence," symbolising Andorra's dedication to the rule of law, separation of powers and fundamental rights.

Afterward, Torre de Silva avoided press comments to maintain institutional neutrality, despite past accusations or "slander" from some media and political figures critical of his nomination.