The Government of Andorra has acknowledged that negotiations with the Holy See to decriminalize abortion have entered a new phase of complexity following the change of pontificate and that it does not expect significant progress in the short term.
According to La Veu Lliure, the issue returned to the floor of the Consell General during the debate on the reform of the Penal Code, following an amendment presented by the Social Democratic Party to incorporate the decriminalization of abortion into the legislative text. The proposal was rejected, although it served to highlight the differences between the Executive and the opposition regarding the pace of the reform.
The change in the Vatican slows down negotiations
The Minister of Institutional Relations, Ladislau Baró, explained that the recent leadership change at the Vatican has altered the dialogue scenario that the Andorran Executive maintained with the Holy See.
He indicated that the new context requires rethinking the conversations and makes it difficult to reach an agreement within the timelines the Government had contemplated a few months ago.
Baró defended that negotiations remain open, but avoided setting a timetable for a possible reform. The minister insisted that the Executive’s objective is to find a solution that allows progress on the so-called “women’s rights” without jeopardizing the country’s current institutional model or the balance that underpins the Co-Principality.
The opposition calls for a more decisive reform
The Social Democratic Party criticized the lack of progress and called for greater determination to adapt Andorran legislation on abortion and the so-called “sexual and reproductive rights.”
The party believes that the Executive has created expectations that, for the time being, have not translated into concrete measures.
In the same vein, Concòrdia lamented that the process remains blocked and urged the Government to promote effective solutions to address a demand that has been present for years in the Andorran political debate.
For its part, the parliamentary majority reiterated that any legal modification must be compatible with the constitutional framework and with the preservation of the Co-Principality, a condition that continues to shape the Executive’s position on one of the most sensitive issues in Andorran politics.