Espot expects to decriminalise abortion before the elections “whether the Holy See likes it or not”

Andorra’s head of government, Xavier Espot, is confident that abortion can be decriminalised before the elections, with a view to the next parliamentary session.

He told RTVA after the general syndic’s speech, referring to the government’s ongoing dialogue with the Vatican and Friday’s meeting with the apostolic nuncio.

“We are continuing this dialogue, with our sights set on this coming parliamentary session and, therefore, with the assurance that we can approve the decriminalisation of abortion. And that is what we are working on,” Espot said.

The head of government reiterated that the government does not expect any explicit statement from the Holy See. The purpose of the talks is to reach the conviction that the reform can proceed without compromising Andorra’s institutional system.

“What the government must gain from this dialogue is the firm conviction that whatever we do, whether the Holy See likes it or not, will not put our institutional system at risk,” he said.

Espot added that the government is still reaching that conviction. His remarks thus place the preservation of the institutional system as a central condition for moving forward with decriminalisation, while contacts with the Vatican continue.

Despite expressing his intention to approve the reform before the elections, the head of government did not specify an approval date or detail the scope of decriminalisation in these remarks.

Years of talks and studies

Andorra’s government plans to submit a reform to the Consell General in September to remove criminal liability for women who have abortions, according to the article published by La Veu Lliure on 31 July, following seven years of negotiations with the Vatican.

The proposal would be limited in scope: it would not allow abortions to be performed in Andorra, provide legal protection for healthcare professionals or include public funding through the CASS social security system. The aim is to remove penalties for women without jeopardising the continuity of the Co-Principality.

The article explains that talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin have been marked by delays, a breakdown in confidentiality and the change of pontificate. It interprets the Holy See’s position as having ceased to block this limited reform, despite maintaining its doctrinal opposition to abortion and without having publicly expressed its approval.