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ANDORRA-VOTE
Andorra’s ruling party loses majority
ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra, April 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Andorra’s ruling party
lost its majority in a general election Sunday and must seek out a coalition
partner after eight years in power in the tiny Pyrenees principality.
The centre-right Democrates per Andorra still won the largest single share
in the 28-member General Council, taking 11 seats with 35 percent of the
vote.
An alliance between socialists and liberals, which had hoped to seize
power, were only able to win four seats.
The second largest party, the Social Democrats, took five seats.
The elections were carried out against a backdrop of unprecedented
demonstrations, first launched in March 2018, over the high cost of housing
and a reform of the civil service.
The finance sector has also faced a shake-up, with Andorra attempting to
overhaul its reputation as a tax haven by criminalising tax evasion and
moving towards full banking transparency.
Once almost entirely tax-free, the winter tourist spot now imposes a 10
percent income tax on both individuals and companies, as well as sales taxes
of up to 4.5 percent.
Antoni Marti’s outgoing government responded to protesters by announcing a
rise in the minimum wage in January.
Marti is expected to be replaced by the party’s former interior minister
Xavier Espot.
Abortion was another hot topic in the election, with the opposition
campaigning to relax current laws which prohibit terminations, including in
the case of rape.
Some 80,000 people live in the mountainous statelet wedged between France
and Spain but only around a third hold Andorran nationality and have the
right to vote.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1056 hrs