Freedom in the World 1998 - Andorra

1998 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 1.0
Civil Liberties: 1
Political Rights: 1

Overview

Andorra became a sovereign parliamentary democracy and a member of the United Nations in 1993. Since 1278, its six parishes, under the joint control of France and the bishop of Urgel in Spain, had existed as an unwritten democracy without official borders. Since 1868, the General Council (parliament) has functioned in various legislative and executive capacities under the supervision of co-princes.

In 1990, the Council of Europe recommended that the principality adopt a modern constitution in order to achieve full integration into the European Union (EU). French President Francois Mitterrand and Bishop Joan Marti I Alanis agreed to grant full sovereignty to Andorra. Under the constitution, the French president and the bishop of Urgel, as co-princes, continue as heads of state, but they are represented locally by officials known as veguers. The head of government retains executive power.

Andorran politics are dominated by five major parties. Four of them governed in coalition until early 1997, at which time the Unio Liberal party won 18 of 28 General Council seats. Eighty-two percent of the country's eligible 10,837 voters cast ballots.

Andorra has no national currency, circulating French francs and Spanish pesetas instead. The country's duty-free status attracts large numbers of tourists, although the EU limits duty-free allowances which has curtailed this source of revenue in recent years.

Under pressure from the EU, the government is continuing its efforts to modernize and liberalize the economy. Due to increasing debt and falling revenues from duty-free sales and tourism, Prime Minister Marc Forne Molne has vowed to streamline Andorra's relations with the EU and to open the country to more foreign investment.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Andorrans can change their government democratically. The Sindic (President), subsindic, and the 28 members of the General Council are elected in general elections held every four years. The new constitution mandates that half of its representatives be elected by parish and half selected from nationwide lists.

The country's independent judiciary is based on the French and Spanish civil codes. Citizens enjoy the right to due process, the presumption of innocence, and the right to legal council, including free counsel for the indigent.

The constitution proclaims respect for the promotion of liberty, equality, justice, tolerance, and defense of human rights and human dignity. Torture and the death penalty are outlawed. There have been no documented cases of police brutality.

The constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of birth, race, sex, origin, religion, disability, opinion, language, or any other "personal or social condition." Many rights and privileges, however, are granted only to Andorran citizens. Citizenship is attained through lineage, marriage, birth, or after 30 years of living and working in the country. Dual citizenship is prohibited, and immigrant workers are not entitled to social benefits. Non-citizens are allowed to own 33 percent of the shares of a company.

Freedom of assembly, association, and religion is guaranteed. The 1993 constitution legalized trade unions for the first time, although no labor unions currently exist.

The constitution guarantees freedom of expression, communication, and information, but allows for laws regulating the right of reply, correction, and professional confidentiality. The domestic press consists of two daily and several weekly newspapers. There are two radio stations, one state-owned and the other privately owned, as well as six television stations. Several radio stations can be received from France and Spain.

The Roman Catholic Church is guaranteed the "preservation of the relations of special cooperation with the State in accordance with the Andorran tradition." The Church, however, is not subsidized by the government. The practice of other religions is respected, but subject to limitations "in the interests of public safety, order, health, or morals, or for the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of others."

There are no restrictions on domestic or foreign travel, emigration, or repatriation. Andorra has a tradition of providing asylum for refugees, although it has no formal asylum policy. Requests are considered on an individual basis.

Women were granted full suffrage in 1970, and there are no legal barriers to their political participation, although social conservatism continues to limit their involvement in politics.