Politics of Andorra
Before 1993, Andorra's political system had no clear division of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches.A constitution ratified and approved in 1993 establishes Andorra as a sovereign parliamentary democracy that retains the Bishop of Urgell and president of France as co-princes and heads of state.The fundamental impetus for this political transformation was a recommendation by the Council of Europe in 1990 that, if Andorra wished to attain full integration in the European Union (EU), it should adopt a modern constitution that guarantees the rights of those living and working there.As co-princes of Andorra, the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France maintain supreme authority in approval of all international treaties with France and Spain, as well as all those that deal with internal security, defense, Andorran territory, diplomatic representation, and judicial or penal cooperation.One co-prince is the sitting Bishop of Urgell of the Catalan city of La Seu d'Urgell, currently Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia.To reduce this imbalance, a provision in the new constitution modified the structure and format for electing Council members.The Government of Andorra maintains a small ceremonial Army, a well-equipped modernized Police Corps, a Fire Brigade, a Mountain Rescue Service, and the GIPA, which is a para-military unit trained in hostage and counter-terrorism roles.There has also been a redefinition of the qualifications for Andorran citizenship, a major issue in a country where only 13,000 of 65,000 residents were legal citizens.Only Andorran nationals are able to transmit citizenship automatically to their children, a legal principal known as jus sanguinis.In addition to questions of Andorran nationality and immigration policy, other priority issues include allowing freedom of association, dealing with housing scarcities and speculation in real estate, developing the tourism industry, and renegotiating the relationship with the European Union.
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