NA

*Andorra, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Principality of Andorra
conventional short form:
Andorra
local long form:
Principat d'Andorra
local short form:
Andorra
Digraph:
AN
Type:
parliamentary coprincipality under formal sovereignty of president of France
and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials
called veguers; to be changed to a parliamentary form of government
Capital:
Andorra la Vella
Administrative divisions:
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La
Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Independence:
1278
Constitution:
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March
1993; to take effect within 15 days
Legal system:
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Political parties and leaders:
political parties not yet legally recognized; traditionally no political
parties but partisans for particular independent candidates for the General
Council on the basis of competence, personality, and orientation toward
Spain or France; various small pressure groups developed in 1972; first
formal political party, Andorran Democratic Association, was formed in 1976
and reorganized in 1979 as Andorran Democratic Party
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal
Elections:
General Council of the Valleys:
last held 12 April 1992 (next to be held April 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
two co-princes (president of France, bishop of Seo de Urgel in Spain), two
designated representatives (French veguer, Episcopal veguer), two permanent
delegates (French prefect for the department of Pyrenees-Orientales, Spanish
vicar general for the Seo de Urgel diocese), president of government,
Executive Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council of the Valleys (Consell General de las Valls)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, the
Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases,
Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases

*Andorra, Government

Leaders:
Chiefs of State:
French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21