Freedom in the World 2018 - Andorra

Freedom Status: Free

Aggregate Score: 96 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free)
Freedom Rating: 1.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Political Rights: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Civil Liberties: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)

Quick Facts

Population: 80,000
Capital: Andorra la Vella
GDP/capita: $36,038
Press Freedom Status: Free

OVERVIEW

Andorra has a parliamentary system of government and regularly holds free and fair elections, though more than 50 percent of the population consists of noncitizens who do not have the right to vote. Political rights and civil liberties are generally respected and safeguarded. However, domestic violence is a problem, and the country is not fully compliant with international standards on accessibility for disabled people. The small Muslim and Jewish communities lack dedicated cemeteries, and the country has no recognized mosque.

Key Developments in 2017:

• In June, the government approved a draft law that would protect the rights of people with disabilities and provide assistance to victims of racism or discrimination.

• In July, the government passed a law to criminalize tax evasion, which will enter into effect in 2018.

POLITICAL RIGHTS: 39 / 40

A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 12 / 12

A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 4 / 4

Andorra has a parliamentary system, with a prime minister elected by and accountable to the parliament. The prime minister is usually the head of the largest party in the parliament, and their legitimacy rests largely on the conduct of parliamentary elections, which have historically been competitive and credible. Antoni Martí, head of the Democrats for Andorra (DA), was reelected as prime minister following that party's victory in the 2015 legislative elections.

Two unelected "co-princes," the French president and the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell, Spain, serve jointly as ceremonial heads of state.

A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 4 / 4

Popular elections are held every four years for the 28-member Consell General. The most recent elections occurred in March 2015. The DA won 15 seats, followed by the Liberal Party of Andorra (PLA) with 8, an independent coalition with 3, and the Social Democracy and Progress party (SDP) with 2. International observers deemed the polls competitive, credible, and generally well administered.

A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 4 / 4

The Electoral Law, which was last changed in 2014 to introduce regulations on campaign finance, provides a sound framework for free and fair elections. The Electoral Board supervises elections impartially.

B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 15 / 16

B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 4 / 4

Political parties may form and operate freely, and there are a number of active parties in Andorra.

B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 4 / 4

There are no restrictions preventing the opposition from increasing its support through elections. Multiple opposition parties are currently represented in the Consell General.

B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 4 / 4

There are no powerful groups without democratic legitimacy that influence or limit the people's political choices.

B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 3 / 4

More than 50 percent of the population consists of noncitizens who do not have the right to vote. Under Andorra's restrictive naturalization criteria, one must marry a resident Andorran or live in the country for more than 20 years to qualify for citizenship. Prospective citizens are also required to learn Catalan, the national language.

Women are active in politics, and hold 36 percent of seats in the legislature.

C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 12 / 12

C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 4 / 4

The elected government and parliament exercise their powers without undue restraints from nonelected or nonstate actors, and freely determine the policies of the government.

C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 4 / 4

Government corruption is not viewed as a pressing issue in Andorra. Significant progress was made to address concerns raised in a 2011 report by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) about Andorra's laws concerning bribery and campaign finance. In a 2017 progress report, GRECO notes that eighteen of the twenty recommendations have now been satisfactorily implemented.

Andorra continued to make efforts to address longstanding concerns about abuse of its banking system in 2017. In July, the government approved a law to outlaw tax evasion, making this practice punishable by prison sentences of between three months and three years. The new law will enter into force in January 2018, together with a law renouncing banking secrecy, which was passed in December 2016.

C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 4 / 4

No law exists to provide public access to government information. However, the government weekly publishes its main actions in a bulletin, which is accessible online or by e-mail.

CIVIL LIBERTIES: 57 / 60 (+1)

D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 15 / 16

D1. Are there free and independent media? 3 / 4

There a number of daily and weekly newspapers, and one Andorran television station, operated by the public broadcaster Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra. Business, political, and religious interests heavily influence media coverage. Reporting on the activities of Andorra's banks is particularly difficult.

D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 4 / 4

Freedom of religion is generally respected, but the Catholic Church enjoys a privileged position that allows it to draw on some state support, and to bypass some bureaucratic processes that other faiths must adhere to.

Despite years of negotiations between the Muslim community and the government, there is no proper mosque for the country's roughly 1,300 Muslims. The government has organized meetings with Jewish and Muslim communities to talk about the possible construction of a special cemetery where these groups may engage in burials according to their customs and beliefs, but progress toward establishing one has stalled.

D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 4 / 4

There are no restrictions on academic freedom, and the educational system is free from indoctrination.

D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 4 / 4

Freedom of speech is respected across the country, and there are no restrictions on internet access or online communications.

E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 11 / 12

E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 4 / 4

Andorran law provides for freedom of assembly, and the government respects this right in practice.

E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 4 / 4

Various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are active in the country, and can function without restrictions. The groups were able to publish their findings on human rights cases, and experienced cooperation from the government.

E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 3 / 4

While the government recognizes that both workers and employers have the right to defend their interests, the right to strike is not legally guaranteed. There are also no laws in place to penalize antiunion discrimination or regulate collective bargaining, although a 2009 law guarantees unions the right to operate.

F. RULE OF LAW: 15 / 16

F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 4 / 4

The judiciary is impartial and independent, and the government generally respects the independence of the judiciary.

F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 4 / 4

Defendants enjoy the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial, and due process is generally upheld in the criminal justice system. The constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, but police can detain suspects for up to 48 hours without charge

F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 4 / 4

Andorra is free from war and insurgencies, and law enforcement agents are not known to use excessive force against civilians.

F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 3 / 4

Same-sex marriage is legal in Andorra, and discrimination against women is illegal. In June 2017, the government approved a draft law that would protect the rights of people with disabilities and provide assistance to victims of racism or discrimination. However, the country is not fully compliant with international standards on accessibility for disabled people and ensuring their entry into the workforce. The law does not require equal pay for equal work, and the Department of Statistics has estimated that women earned 24 percent less than men for comparable work.

G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 16 / 16 (+1)

G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 4 / 4

There are no restrictions on the freedom of movement, and people are generally free to choose their place of employment, residence, and education.

G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 4 / 4 (+1)

Citizens enjoy the right to own property. Legislation passed in 2012 fully opened up the economy to foreign investors as well, allowing noncitizens to own up to 100 percent of any commercial entity.

Score Change: The score improved from 3 to 4 due to efforts to eliminate restrictions on individuals' rights to own a business or property.

G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 4 / 4

Domestic violence and sexual exploitation are prohibited by law and are punishable with prison sentences. The government pursues domestic violence cases and provides resources for victims. Nevertheless, domestic violence remains a problem, and sometimes involves violence against children.

G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 4 / 4

Andorran laws provide protections for most workers, including migrant workers. However, temporary workers are in a precarious position, as they must leave the country when their employment contract expires, leaving them vulnerable to potential abuse by employers. The Labour Inspections Office successfully addresses cases of violations of workers' rights.

There have been no confirmed reports of human trafficking occurring in Andorra in the past year.

Scoring Key: X / Y (Z)

X = Score Received
Y = Best Possible Score
Z = Change from Previous Year