Andorra's Ruling Party Loses Majority

Andorra la Vella, Andorra, April 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2019 ) :Andorra's ruling party lost its majority in a general election Sunday and must seek out a coalition partner after eight years in power in the tiny Pyrenees principality.

The centre-right Democrates per Andorra still won the largest single share in the 28-member General Council, taking 11 seats with 35 percent of the vote.

An alliance between socialists and liberals, which had hoped to seize power, were only able to win four seats.

The second largest party, the Social Democrats, took five seats.

The elections were carried out against a backdrop of unprecedented demonstrations, first launched in March 2018, over the high cost of housing and a reform of the civil service.

The finance sector has also faced a shake-up, with Andorra attempting to overhaul its reputation as a tax haven by criminalising tax evasion and moving towards full banking transparency.

Once almost entirely tax-free, the winter tourist spot now imposes a 10 percent income tax on both individuals and companies, as well as sales taxes of up to 4.5 percent.

Antoni Marti's outgoing government responded to protesters by announcing a rise in the minimum wage in January.

Marti is expected to be replaced by the party's former interior minister Xavier Espot.