The Government of Andorra - CountriesPedia

Andorra - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Andorra, it was the origin of the country's name is obscure; the name may derive from the Arabic "ad-darra" meaning "the forest," a reference to its location as part of the Spanish March (defensive buffer zone) against the invading Moors in the 8th century; an alternate explanation is that the name originates from a Navarrese word "andurrial" meaning "shrub-covered land". The Government system in this country is the parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

National symbols

Red cow (breed unspecified); national colors: blue, yellow, red.

The flag

The National flag of Andorra has three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the latter band is slightly wider than the other 2 so that the ratio of band widths is 8:9:8; the coat of arms features a quartered shield with the emblems of (starting in the upper left and proceeding clockwise): Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger); the flag combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to show Franco-Spanish protection.

note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem

The National Anthem

Title	"El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)
Lyric/music	Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS

note: adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first person narrative

More about the government of Andorra

Constitution
Date of Independence	1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)
National holiday	Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Legal system	mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993
Amendments	Proposed by the coprinces jointly or by the General Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the General Council, ratification in a referendum, and sanctioning by the coprinces
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	25 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Patrick STROZDA (since 14 May 2017); and Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Eduard Ibanez PULIDO (since 27 November 2023)
Head of government	Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)
Cabinet	Executive Council composed of head of government and 11 ministers designated by the head of government
Elections/appointments	head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; election last held on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2027); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government
Election results	2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) reelected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 57.1% 2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de les Valls (28 seats; 14 members directly elected in two-seat constituencies (7 parishes) by simple majority vote and 14 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections	Last held on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2027)
Election results	Percent of vote by party/coalition - DA, CC, L'A & ACCIO alliance 43.6%, C 21.4%, AE 16%, PS & SDP alliance 21.1%; seats by party/coalition - DA, CC, L'A & ACCIO alliance 17, C 5, AE 3, PS & SDP alliance 3; composition - men 14, women 14, percentage women 50%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de la Justicia d'Andorra (consists of the court president and 8 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 4 magistrates)
Judge selection and term of office	Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice, a 5-member judicial policy and administrative body appointed 1 each by the coprinces, 1 by the General Council, 1 by the executive council president, and 1 by the courts; judges serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional magistrates - 2 appointed by the coprinces and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year terms
Subordinate courts	Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Joan FORNER ROVIRA (since 20 August 2024); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Chancery	2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Telephone	[1] (212) 750-8064
FAX	[1] (212) 750-6630
Email address and website	[email protected] https://www.exteriors.ad/en/embassies-of-andorra/andorra-usa-embassy
Diplomatic representation from the US
Embassy	The US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Espana; telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27; FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75; email address: [email protected]
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley