Orriols endorses comparison of La Seu d’Urgell to “Ceuta 2” and says criticism targeted Spain
The Aliança Catalana leader defends Andorra’s policies and urges caution over its association agreement with the EU
Sílvia Orriols has endorsed remarks comparing La Seu d’Urgell to “Ceuta 2”, while insisting that the criticism was directed at the Spanish state, not Andorra.
During an interview in Andorra conducted by Artur Homs, director of the podcast Fet a Andorra, the Aliança Catalana leader defended Andorra’s immigration policies and argued that Catalonia bears the consequences of decisions made by neighbouring territories.
“They were not my words; they were those of former MP Ramon Abad, but I endorse them,” Orriols said when asked about the controversy. She then clarified that the remarks were not intended to challenge the Andorran government’s decisions.
She argued that Andorra pursues policies that benefit the country and that her party would probably introduce similar measures in Catalonia if it had the power to do so.
Blaming the Spanish state for the immigration situation
Orriols said her criticism targeted the Spanish state, which she blamed for what she described as “Third World conditions” and an “influx of immigrants”. She argued that Catalonia receives both people arriving from the south and people who move there after unsuccessfully seeking work in Andorra.
She portrayed this situation as a consequence of the immigration policies pursued by neighbouring authorities. “We are caught in the middle, bearing the consequences of everyone else’s immigration policies,” she said.
In this context, she maintained that when these people return to Spanish territory, it is Catalonia that receives them. “We would like the immigrants [Andorra] sends back to Spain to go to Spain, not Catalonia,” she said, drawing a political distinction between Catalonia and the rest of the country.
Her remarks reflect her interpretation of these migration patterns. However, in the interview excerpt, she provided no specific figures or details of administrative procedures that would establish which types of return she was referring to.
Caution over the EU association agreement
The interview also addressed Andorra’s relations with the European Union. Orriols advised Andorra to approach the association agreement cautiously, referring to its planned signing on 19 October.
The Aliança Catalana leader based her recommendation on her assessment of European policies in recent years, which she claimed have harmed Catalan farmers and livestock producers. On that basis, she urged Andorra to proceed carefully as it prepares to take this step in its relationship with the EU.
