ANDORRA’S ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION DAY: 14TH MARCH, 1993
BUT WHAT CAME BEFORE?
Did you know that Andorra has not been to war in more than 700 years? Do you know why?
Well, let’s take a quick canter through the hills and valleys of Andorra’s extraordinary history starting in AD 843 when Charlemagne’s grandson, Emperor Charles the Bald, confirmed the Valls d’Andorra as a feudal domain. For the next 400 years various powerful barons fought over the valleys – as was their want – until, finally, the contestants were reduced to two: the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix. Enter stage left their feudal sovereign, King Pere II of Aragon and Catalonia. Sick to death of their bickering, on 8th September, 1278, the King induced his feuding subjects to sign a pariatge, or treaty of equal sharing of the feudal rights of the Valleys. Thus our co-principality was born. (Later the Count of Foix’s share passed, through marriage, to the French crown and then down, via Napoleon, to today’s French Presidents.)
This 1278 Pariatge was the most important document in Andorra’s entire history prior to 1993 for it meant that one robust co-prince counterbalanced the other ensuring that, for the next seven centuries, tiny Andorra remained neutral and uninvaded despite all the conflicts and civil wars that raged through its outsized neighbours, France and Spain.
Uniquely, Andorra is the world’s only remaining co-principality. This gives the country the singular distinction of being reigned over by two equal, sovereign Princes, one of whom (the President of France) is the only monarch in the world to be elected by ordinary citizens — though not, of course, by the citizens of Andorra, that would be far too humdrum for such an enigmatic country. (He is also the world’s only individual to be a monarch and the head of a republic at the same time.) Andorra’s other sovereign prince is appointed by the Pope – naturally – who also happens to be head of the world’s smallest sovereign state, Vatican City. Since 1278, this second prince has always been the incumbent Bishop of Urgell, living in his palace ten kilometres across the Spanish border in La Seu d’Urgell.
Since the signing of the country’s written constitution in 1993, the co-princes continue as joint head of state but the democratically elected Andorran head of government, the Cap de Govern, and parliament itself, the Consell General, retain all executive power. In other words the Princes are constitutional monarchs who reign but do not rule. Andorra’s sovereignty lies with its people. (Andorra’s first parliament, the Consell de la Terra or Land Council, was set up in 1419. Gradually evolving over the centuries, the present Consell General is therefore one of the oldest parliaments in Europe.)
The Constitution of Andorra, the supreme law of the Principality, was approved by a wide margin in a referendum on the 14th March, 1993. Containing 107 articles, it recognises the principles of international law with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights integrated directly into the country’s legal system. It makes all people equal before the law, forbids torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments, and explicitly forbids the death penalty.
So how does the Constitution affect ex-pat residents and foreign visitors? Before the Constitution, Andorra had three official languages: Catalan, French and Spanish but, with the Constitution, Catalan became the country’s only official language.
Article 12 guarantees freedom of expression. Articles 16 and 17 recognise Andorrans’ rights to participate in peaceful demonstrations, as long as the authorities are notified beforehand, and to associate freely.
Article 22 lays out foreigners’ rights in cases of non-renewal of residency or an expulsion order. It says that this can only be done as prescribed by law, and that the foreigner in such a case has recourse to the courts.
Parents have the right to choose what kind of education their children will have, in keeping with their own religious convictions.
The Constitution also makes the passing of retroactive laws illegal.
And, for your information, but not part of the Constitution, those wishing to become an Andorran citizen, have, at present, to live here for 20 years, take a viva in Catalan in front of a board of six interviewers covering questions on the Constitution, the judicial system, the country’s history and traditions, geography etc. If accepted you have to surrender your original citizenship and passport. (Andorrans risk losing their citizenship if they are found to have retained dual nationality.) Women who changed their name on marrying, will have their name changed back. You are entitled to two first names followed by the obligatory surnames of your father and then your mother.
So why do it? The advantages are considerable. You are part of a country that you can feel proud of. You are free to take on any job or start any business you like that is within the law. You do not have to pass any tests of income.
While travelling to some countries you need visas, in others immigration officials can turn difficult. For those who claim to have never heard of Andorra I always carry a Google map in my passport showing Andorra’s position next to France and Spain, but when I arrived in The Yukon, Canada the immigration woman took my passport, eyes shining with glee, as she caressed it. ‘I’ve never ever seen one of these before!’ Two days ago I picked up my new Andorran passport said to be the most digitally advanced in the world. It took less than 24 hours to process.
For more fascinating, in-depth information about Andorra, take a look at Andorra Revealed, available from Amazon as a paperback or e-book.
PICK OF THE WEEK
MUSIC
CONCERT OF THE CONSTITUTION:
TUESDAY, 14th March at 12h in the lobby of the Consell General parliament building. (Free): A CONSTITUTION OF FILM with the ONCA BÀSIC. Film music ranging from PORGY AND BESS, and THE JAMES BOND THEME through THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S to Harry Potter’s THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE, AWAKENINGS and STAR WARS. Played by: Francesc Planella & Josep Martínez Reinoso: (violin); Elias Porter: (viola); Daniel Claret: (cello).
MANON LESCAUT by PUCCINI
TUESDAY, 14th March at 20h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. Opera direct from the Teatre Regio de Turin: in four acts. Starring: MARÍA JOSÉ SIRI, GREGORY KUNDE, DALIBOR JENIS and CARLO LEPORE. It is a love story of two teenagers: Manon and Des Grieux. They elope to Paris – but when the elderly Geronte offers Manon a life of wealth and luxury, her head is turned. But she cannot forget Des Grieux. Des Grieux attempts to flee with her, but before they can escape, Geronte has Manon arrested. They escape, but, on the run again, Manon collapses from exhaustion. She dies in Des Grieux’s arms.
EL VIRTUOSISME LÍRIC – CECILIA BARTOLI and SERGIO CIOMEI
FRIDAY, 17th March at 20h in the Centre de Congressos, Andorra la Vella. Temporada de Música i Dansa. (Tickets: still a few left! 30€ & 40€ on morabanc web page and in Andorra la Vella tourist office.) One of today’s great stars of opera, the incomparable mezzo-soprano, Cecilia Bartoli, will be treading the stage of the Centre de Congressos for the first time, accompanied by the pianist Sergio Ciomei. The programme has yet to be announced though it will surely include the music with which Cecilia is identified: Mozart and Rossini. In 2011, Bartoli won a fifth Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance and, in 2016, she received the Polar Prize, considered the Nobel prize of music.
MUSIC FOR CHILDREN
LIFE IS MUSIC: A Children’s concert with DÀMARIS GELABERT. SATURDAY, 18th March at 17h & 18.30 at the Teatre Comunal, Andorra la Vella (Arrive on time! Once the show starts no one will be allowed in! Free for children. 4€ for adults.) A tour demonstrating the importance of music and song in the lives of children through the most popular songs of Dàmaris Gelabert. Accompanied by Laia Martinez and supported by visual and performing arts, Dàmaris reveals how the world is full of sounds and songs, and that songs help us to learn and grow.
CINEMA
KONG: SKULL ISLAND
MONDAY 13th, WEDNESDAY 15th and THURSDAY, 16th March at 19.45 at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. Directed by JORDAN VOGT-ROBERTS Starring: TOM HIDDLESTON, SAMUEL L. JACKSON and BRIE LARSON. The film fully immerses audiences in the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes. A team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers unites to explore an uncharted island in the Pacific. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the Mighty Kong. As their mission becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden.
CHILDREN’S CONSTITUTION DAY OUT
TUESDAY, 14th March from 11h – 20h in the space of Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. PIOLET, VIOLET and ANDI will conquer space at Illa Carlemany: films, shows, entertainment and fun from 11h to 20h. Are you ready for a space adventure?
At 11h, we will open the day with PIOLET, VIOLET and ANDI. They will welcome you to the Planta Baixa and invite you to enjoy drawing and painting, face painting and workshops where you can let your imagination run free and create your own planet.
AT 12.30, Everyone to the movies! Screening of the film ‘WALL-E’. This is a free session for members of Club Piolet, courtesy of Cinemes Illa Carlemany. (limited capacity).
AND ADULTS!
FROM 16h – 19h. On Floor 0, come and venture into space and science! Enjoy the MOBILE PLANETARIUM OPEN SKY, a large inflatable dome where children and adults alike can experience and discover the mysteries of the universe in 360º and with surround sound. The pictures will envelope you and you’ll have to go very carefully during the journey for something unforeseen, something galactic may appear from a most unexpected corner! In addition, A MAD SCIENTIST who seems to come from another planet, will be DOING EXPERIMENTS at her desk to demonstrate some physical and chemical principles of the universe. You can find many answers about the elements of our solar system and beyond! Astronomical projections and scientific experiments will be every half hour from 16h to 18:30.
AT 19h, on the ground floor, comes the grand finale of the day with the children’s spectacular: PIOLET WANTS TO BE AN ARTIST!
PARLIAMENT GUIDED TOUR
MONDAY, 13th from 17h – 20h and TUESDAY, 14th March from 10h – 14h at the CASA DE LA VALL and the CONSELL GENERAL in the Centre Historic, Andorra la Vella. (Free. No reservation needed.) Open door days in celebration of the Constitution. Guided visits to the old Casa de la Vall parliament building and the new seat of the Consell General (parliament).
Warning: Tuesday 14th March is Constitution Day.
Most things will be shut.
Culturally yours,
Clare
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Look for about the author of the blog Clare Allcard
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Look here for the whole blog “Cultural events in Andorra with Clare Allcard”
