Andorra

For 715 years Andorra was ruled jointly by Spanish and French co-princes—respectively, the Bishop of Urgel and, in modern times, the President of France—in a unique form of autonomy. Responsibility for domestic affairs was delegated to an elected general council (Consell General de las Valls); judicial and foreign affairs and defence remained under the control of the co-princes. In January 1982 legislative and executive functions were separated with the establishment of an executive council (government) appointed from the 28-member general council and headed by a president. On March 14, 1993, Andorrans voted to end this semi-feudal system in a referendum on a new constitution establishing Andorra as an independent, democratic state. The constitution enables Andorra to set up an independent judiciary, implement its own foreign policy, and join international organizations; it was admitted to the United Nations in 1993. It has also permitted Andorrans to set up political parties and join trade unions, and has legalized the right to strike. The co-princes remain nominal heads of state, but now have a veto only over legislation affecting the country’s borders. France and Spain also retain responsibility for Andorra’s defence. The first elections under the new constitution were held in December 1993. In January 1994 Oscar Ribas Reig became president of the first sovereign government of Andorra. The most important political parties are the ruling Liberal Party of Andorra (PLA; Partit Liberal Andorra), the Social Democratic Party (PSD; Partit Socialdemòcrata), and the Democratic Party (PD; Parti Demòcrata).

Andorra is traditionally held to have been declared a free state by Charlemagne in the 9th century ad. In 1278 it came under the joint rule of the Spanish Bishop of Urgel and of the Count of Foix of France; through the latter, French rights passed successively to the kings and elected heads of state of France. Andorra pays a nominal biennial tribute to France and to the Bishop of Urgel.

The franchise in Andorra was extended in 1970, to include women and second-generation Andorrans, and subsequent changes during the 1970s led to discussions on institutional reform in 1980. Concerns regarding the international status of Andorra and control of its essential services, resulted in representatives of the co-princes and the General Council agreeing to the formation of an executive council and a referendum on electoral reform. Throughout the 1980s reforms continued, including the recognition of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights in April 1988; formation of the first Andorran trade union in June 1988; and further widening of the franchise. A referendum in March 1993 approved the new constitution, which came into force on May 4, 1993. The first general election under the new constitution took place on December 12, 1993, and Oscar Ribas Reig was elected president of the Executive Council in January 1994. Andorra became a member of the Council of Europe in November; Reig resigned later the same month to be replaced by Marc Forné Molné. In both February 1997, March 2001, and April 2005 the government was overwhelmingly re-elected. Albert Pintat Santolària was elected premier in 2005.