Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a sovereign landlocked microstate on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France to the north and Spain to the south. Believed to have been created by Charlemagne, Andorra was ruled by the count of Urgell until 988, when it was transferred to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urgell. The present principality was formed by a charter in 1278. It is headed by two co-princes: the Bishop of Urgell in Catalonia, Spain and the President of France. Its capital and largest city is Andorra la Vella.
The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, and a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government, with the Head of Government of Andorra as chief executive. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The co-princes of Andorra are jointly the heads of state of the Principality of Andorra, a landlocked microstate lying in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Founded in 1278 by means of a treaty between the bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix, this unique diarchical arrangement has persisted through medieval times to the 21st century. Currently, the bishop of Urgell and the president of France serve as Andorra's co-princes, following the transfer of the count of Foix's claims to the Crown of France and, thence, to the president of France. Each co-prince appoints a personal representative, the French co-prince currently being represented by Patrick Strzoda and the Episcopal co-prince by Josep Maria Mauri.
There are two types of elections in Andorra: parliamentary elections and local elections. The 28 members of the General Council of the Valleys are elected in parliamentary elections for a maximum term of four years. In the local elections, the council members of the seven parishes of Andorra are elected for a four-year term.
Syndic is a term applied in certain countries to an officer of government with varying powers, and secondly to a representative or delegate of a university, institution or other corporation, entrusted with special functions or powers.
The General Council is the unicameral parliament of Andorra. It is sometimes referred to as the General Council of the Valleys because it was the historical name and to distinguish it from similarly named bodies in the Val d'Aran and in France.
Òscar Ribas Reig was an Andorran politician, lawyer, and businessman who became the first prime minister of Andorra in 1982. He twice served as head of government, first from 8 January 1982 to 21 May 1984 and again from 12 January 1990 to 7 December 1994.
Francesc Areny Casal is an Andorran politician. He was General Syndic (President) of the General Council of Andorra between 1997 and 2005.
Josep Dallerès Codina is an Andorran politician. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Andorra and served as General Syndic of Andorra 19 January 1994 - 10 March 1997 and from 2009 to 2011.
Parliamentary elections were held in Andorra on 9 December 1981, with a second round of voting on 16 December. Local elections were held on the same day. Following the elections, Òscar Ribas Reig became the country's first Prime Minister.
Parliamentary elections were held in Andorra on 12 and 19 December 1985. As political parties were not legalised until 1993, all candidates ran as independents. Following the election, Josep Pintat-Solans remained Prime Minister.
Parliamentary elections were held in Andorra on 10 December 1989, with a second round of voting on 17 December. Following the elections, Òscar Ribas Reig became Prime Minister, elected on 12 January 1990 by a vote of 23−5.
Parliamentary elections were held in Andorra on 5 April 1992, with a second round of voting on 12 April. Following the elections, Òscar Ribas Reig remained Prime Minister.
Vicenç Mateu Zamora is an Andorran diplomat and politician. He was the General Syndic (speaker) of General Council, Andorra's unicameral legislative body. He has a doctoral degree in Philosophy, Master in Business Administration (MBA) and also studied law. He worked as a professor of philosophy and literature at San Ermengol School and UNED. He was the Andorra ambassador to Spain and France, delegate to UNESCO. He was Secretary General of the Ministry of Technical Education, Culture and Youth (1990–91), and founding member of the National Democratic Initiative (IDN), the national leader of IDN, general counsel for two terms and founding member of New Centre (NC).
Roser Suñé i Pascuet is an Andorran politician, current and first female to hold the office of General Syndic of the General Council, the Speaker of the Parliament of Andorra since 3 May 2019.
Mònica Bonell Tuset is a Democratic politician from Andorra. She served as second deputy mayor of the city of Canillo from 2003 and 2011. Her preparation for a political career came from being a technician of companies and tourist activities with focus on administration. She was also Deputy General Syndic of the General Council of Andorra between 2011 and 2019.
Meritxell Palmitjavila Naudí is an Andorran politician, current Deputy General Syndic of the General Council of Andorra since 3 May 2019, she is the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Andorra.
Josep Maria Beal i Benedico was an Andorran politician who served as General Syndic (Speaker) of the General Council since 12 January 1990 until 15 February 1991, when he resigned suffering from a disease that would end up confining him to a wheelchair. He abandoned the first line of politics until 2003, when he was candidate in the 2003 local elections but unsuccessfully.