ANDORRA ELECTS ITS MAYORS

UNCLAS BARCELONA 000102 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE (E. SAMSON) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SP AN SUBJECT: ANDORRA ELECTS ITS MAYORS ¶1. (SBU) The ruling Liberal Party of Andorra (LP) continued its winning ways December 2 handily winning weekend municipal elections. The Social Democratic Party (PS),which had formed a coalition with other like minded groups under the name L'Alternativa, came in second. Two big surprises were the victorious showings of two LP splinter parties, Union of the People (Unio del Poble-UdP),and Municipal Action of Ordino (Accio Comunal d'Ordino-ACO),which also drew support from the nearly defunct Democratic Center Party (CDS). A coalition of Greens, running for the first time, obtained a healthy ten percent of the votes in several municipalities. Lower voter turnout was a factor in these elections. ¶2. (SBU) Seventy-eight percent of the 19.300 eligible voters (about 24 percent of the population) participated in electing the 84 councilors of Andorra's seven municipalities (Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, and Sant Julia de Loria). Voter turnout was lower, however, than four years ago, when over 80 percent of the population took part in the elections. ¶3. (SBU) Although the LP continued its hold on power, abstentions and splintering ate away at its electoral superiority. It LP lost control of two of the five municipalities in which it held sway. The LP will govern in La Massana, Sant Julia de Loria and Canillo. The PS-L'Alternativa will control over Encamp and Andorra la Vella),while upstart UdP will govern Escaldes-Engordany and ACO will control Ordino. ¶4. (SBU) The 19 parties or groups up for election campaigned principally on issues of local concern: the environment, development of public land, immigration and job quotas for immigrants, housing (particularly for the aged),and public transportation. These same issues are likely to be key in the next general elections schedule for Spring 2009. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: President Pintat's Liberal Party continues to be the most attractive to the majority of Andorrans, but that attraction is fading. Falling voter turnout, internal party discord, manifested by more splinter parties, and opposition coalitions are eating away at the LP's strong position. The PS-L'Alternativa coalition, for example, saw its position grow stronger in these elections, and the Greens made a statement for the first time in Andorran elections. All of this will bear watching in the run up to the general elections in 2009. END COMMENT. ROBINSON