Liberals of Andorra

Liberals of Andorra
Liberals d'Andorra
AbbreviationL'A (since 2012)
UL (1992-2001)
PLA (2001-2012)
PresidentCristina Rico[1]
FounderMarc Forné Molné
Founded1992
HeadquartersCarrer de la Unió, Edifici Eland, 5è 3a AD500 Andorra la Vella
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right[3]
European affiliationAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
International affiliationLiberal International
Colours  Navy blue and   gold (since 2023)
  Light blue (until 2023)
General Council
0 / 28
Website
www.liberals.ad

The Liberals of Andorra (Catalan: Liberals d'Andorra, LA) is a conservative-liberal[4] political party in Andorra. It is a member of the Liberal International and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

History

Previous logo of the Liberal Party
Previous logo of the Liberal Party (until November 2021)
Previous logo of the Liberal Party (until June 2023)

The party was established as the Liberal Union (Unió Liberal) in 1992 by Marc Forné Molné. In the 1993 elections it received 22% of the vote and won five seats, making it the second largest party in the General Council.[5] Although the party was in opposition after Òscar Ribas Reig formed a progressive coalition government, Ribas was forced out of office after losing a vote of no confidence and Forné became Prime Minister on 7 December 1994.[6]

After two votes of no confidence, Forné called early elections in 1997.[6] In the run-up to the elections the Union formed alliances with several local parties, including the Liberal Union–Liberal Group of Encamp, the Liberal Opinion Group (GOL), Unity and Renewal (UiR) and the Lauredian Union (UL), with the local parties contesting only at the parish level.[7] The Union won 16 seats of which GOL took four, UL two and the UiR two, with Forné remaining Prime Minister.

Shortly before the 2001 elections the party was renamed the Liberal Party of Andorra (Partit Liberal d'Andorra)[7] It won 46.1% of the popular vote and 15 seats, with Forné again remaining Prime Minister. In the 2005 elections the party lost another seat, but was still able to form a government, this time led by Albert Pintat. Pintat resigned the leadership, which passed to Joan Gabriel, before the 2009 elections.

In the elections the party was part of the Reformist Coalition alongside the Lauredian Union, Century 21, and two other political parties. The Coalition won 11 seats, whilst the Social Democrats won 14 seats and gained control of the government.

In the run up to the 2011 parliamentary election, the Liberal Party and the other members of the Reformist Coalition gave support to the Democrats for Andorra (DA). The new party chose Antoni Martí as leader and won the election on 3 April 2011 a landslide with 20 of the General Council's 28 seats.

Half way through the first term in office of Democrats for Andorra, a group of party activists started to actively work in order to run again separately in the 2015 elections.[8] They presented their new name, Liberals of Andorra, and they announced their intention to stand candidates in the next parliamentary election.[9]

In the 2015 parliamentary election held on 1 March 2015, the Liberal Party received 27.7% of the vote and 8 seats in the General Council.[10]

Election results

General Council elections

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
1993 Marc Forné Molné 1,591 22.0
5 / 28
 – 2nd Opposition
1997 3,543 40.5
16 / 28
 Increase 11 Increase 1st Majority
2001 4.739 44.1
15 / 28
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Majority
2005 5,100 41.2
14 / 28
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Majority
2009[a] Joan Gabriel i Estany 4,747 32.3
11 / 28
 Decrease 3 Decrease 2nd Opposition
2011 Did not run Extra-parliamentary
2015 Josep Pintat Forné 4,073 27.7
8 / 28
 Increase 8 2nd Opposition
2019 Jordi Gallardo Fernández 2,219 12.5
4 / 28
 Decrease 4 Decrease3rd Coalition
2023 Josep Maria Cabanes 893 4.7
0 / 28
 Decrease 4 Decrease 5th Extra-parliamentary
  1. ^ As part of the Reformist Coalition.

Local elections

Election Votes % Seats +/– Position
1995 1,531 21.8
10 / 80
 – 2nd
1999 3,187 38.1
24 / 80
 Increase 14 Increase 1st
2003 5.224 47.7
51 / 82
 Increase 27 Steady 1st
2007 6,078 46.6
46 / 86
 Decrease 5 Steady 1st
2011 Did not contest
2015 3,498 26.1
10 / 80
 Increase 10 2nd
2019 4,469 31.4
7 / 80
 Decrease 3 4th

Notable members

See also

References

  1. ^ https://liberals.ad/coneix-nos/elpartit/ L’executiva
  2. ^ "Andorra". Europe Elects. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. ^ Tom Lansford (15 April 2013). Political Handbook of the World 2013. SAGE Publications. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-4522-5825-6.
  4. ^ Wolfgang Ismayr (21 December 2013). Die politischen Systeme Westeuropas. Springer-Verlag. p. 762. ISBN 978-3-322-97575-1.
  5. ^ Nohlen D & Stöver P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p.164 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  6. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p166
  7. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p162
  8. ^ "El PLA comença les reunions per reactivar-se". Diari d'Andorra. December 18, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "El PLA concorrerà en solitari a les generals del 2015". Diari d'Andorra. March 4, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  10. ^ "Eleccions al Consell General 2019".