Opposition does not see Ladislau Baró as an electoral threat

Opposition sources consulted by La Veu Lliure say they would also welcome Demòcrates per Andorra (DA) choosing Ladislau Baró as its candidate.

According to sources from Concòrdia, the PS and Andorra Endavant, the Minister for Institutional Relations, Education and Universities could be a candidate who causes less concern among political rivals than other potential contenders.

Their assessment is primarily electoral. The sources believe Baró could bring different currents within DA together, but doubt he could win over new voters or take votes from other parties.

In their view, he is a familiar political figure associated with centre-left positions, but has limited ability to mobilise voters beyond those already close to DA.

The assessment comes at a time when, according to the same sources, Baró’s name does not appear to have broad support among voters.

They also say the minister has hinted in conversations with several people that he does not intend to stand as the candidate.

The prospect of leading the government for another term—after serving as a minister and facing sustained political criticism—is one possible reason for his reservations.

Opposition sources also question whether Baró has the drive needed to take on a responsibility of this scale.

They say the possibility of bolstering his team with other figures to help cover the institutional and political agenda has already been raised. This is the sources’ assessment; they interpret the potential need for additional support as a sign of the doubts surrounding his candidacy.

Criticism over the decriminalisation of abortion

Another factor that could weigh on assessments of Baró, according to the sources, is DA’s record on its commitment to decriminalise abortion.

Health Minister Helena Mas confirmed that abortion will not be covered by the Andorran Social Security Fund (CASS) and that healthcare professionals in the country will not be able to perform the procedure.

Opposition figures see this outcome as a failure to meet the expectations created by the political commitment. The sources argue that the way the measure has been implemented could be viewed as falling short of what was promised, weakening DA’s record on a particularly sensitive issue.

Virtus and the centre-right electorate

The possible emergence of Virtus is also part of the speculation among opposition figures. Some sources see the party as a project that could help win back conservative voters who believe DA has shifted towards more progressive positions. In this reading, Virtus would represent a more traditionalist profile and could help improve DA’s standing with centre-right voters.

The same sources point to contradictions in this assessment. They cite, for example, Virtus’s support for restricting foreign nationals’ home purchases alongside its full or partial support for the association agreement with the European Union. 

These sources interpret the relationship between Virtus and DA’s political space as a possible electoral strategy, but there is no confirmation that DA has launched or coordinated the project.

In any case, the sources consulted believe DA could still choose other candidates with greater potential to broaden its voter base. They see Baró’s candidacy as an option that could maintain unity within the party without necessarily posing a greater electoral threat to other parties.