Ordino councillor says national government 'lost control' of immigration and housing

Enric Dolsa, councillor for the minority group in the Comú d’Ordino, told RTVA he believes the national government “has lost control” of immigration and access to housing, and described the two issues as closely linked. He warned that rapid demographic growth is straining public services and infrastructure and called the prospect of Andorra reaching 100,000 residents “an aberration,” arguing the country lacks the capacity to sustain such numbers.

Dolsa said the housing shortage is long‑standing, with discussions on the problem dating back decades, and criticised the slow progress on projects intended to expand affordable supply. He singled out the Borda de Sales plot — acquired more than three decades ago for social housing — as an example of public land that has not been put to use and lamented that “no effective decisions” have been taken to reverse the situation.

While rejecting the idea that the state must build all new homes, Dolsa urged decisive public‑private cooperation to accelerate delivery. He proposed making public land available to private developers under conditions that prioritise rental housing over sale, arguing that such partnerships would add value, expand the rental stock and relieve market pressure.

At parish level Dolsa said relations within the Comú d’Ordino are cooperative and that elected officials put parish interests above party lines. He defended Ordino’s urban plan (POUP) as having regulated the main settlements and disputed claims that no buildable land remains, saying some plots retain developable capacity. He cited a proposed hotel complex opposite Hotel Coma as an example of a project that could preserve green areas if declared of parish interest rather than left to speculation.

Dolsa recalled a deferred‑plots mechanism from Ordino’s 2001 urban plan, under which the Comú could set the percentage of buildability, and said it was abandoned “under pressure.” He noted urban plans can be adjusted on a six‑year cycle and that tools exist to steer development toward public‑interest goals.

On the proposed sociosanitary centre for the Valls del Nord, Dolsa called for a transparent process and a public tender, warning against repeating past mistakes such as the Grifols deal. He acknowledged private financing will likely be necessary and insisted the priority is delivering the service to the northern valleys regardless of the exact site.

Although he does not identify with any existing party, Dolsa voiced support for Carles Ensenyat, the current Síndic General and a member of Demòcrates, as his preferred candidate to lead the government in future elections, citing Ensenyat’s ability to build consensus and clarity of ideas.

Dolsa framed sustainable population and growth policies, together with practical measures to expand the rental housing supply, as the most effective way to address the intertwined challenges of immigration and housing. He urged coordinated public‑private action and better use of public land to ease market tensions and preserve parish quality of life.

His remarks come amid a wider national debate over the 2026 budget. The finance minister, Ramon Lladós, has defended the draft budget as containing “historic investments,” highlighting an increase in housing spending to more than €21 million and continued commitment to public housing. Lladós also stressed the government will not raise taxes during the legislature, arguing tax increases would make the country less attractive to businesses. Government figures note that since 2023 more than €85 million has been directed to housing works and reforms, measures the administration says will soon yield roughly 400 public apartments.

Opposition parties have criticised the budget’s priorities and called for more transformative measures. Concòrdia and the Social Democrats questioned whether the plan addresses long‑term economic diversification and social needs, and Andorra Endavant’s leader, Carine Montaner, has proposed measures such as banning the domiciliation of foreign companies in residential properties, promoting smaller units and modular housing, and curbing speculative investment as ways to alleviate housing pressures.

Dolsa concluded by urging policymakers to combine population and growth policies with concrete steps to boost rental supply, stressing that faster delivery through public‑private partnerships and more active management of public land are essential to relieve the market and protect local living standards.