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Co-Princes of Andorra

The co-princes of Andorra are jointly the heads of state (Catalan: cap d'estat)[1] of the Principality of Andorra, a landlocked microstate lying in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Founded in 1278 by means of a treaty between the bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix, this unique diarchical arrangement has persisted through the Middle Ages to the present. Currently, the bishop of Urgell (Joan Enric Vives Sicília) and the president of France (Emmanuel Macron) serve as Andorra's co-princes, following the transfer of the count of Foix's claims to the Crown of France and, subsequently, to the head of state of the French Republic. Each co-prince appoints a personal representative, the episcopal co-prince by Josep Maria Mauri and the French co-prince currently being represented by Patrick Strzoda.[2]

Co-Princes of Andorra
Coprínceps d'Andorra (Catalan)
Incumbent
Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília
since 12 May 2003
Co-incumbent
Emmanuel Macron
since 14 May 2017
Details
StyleHis Excellency
First monarchPere d'Urtx
Roger-Bernard III
Formation1278; 746 years ago (1278)
ResidenceLa Seu d'Urgell Cathedral (Spain)
Élysée Palace (France)
AppointerThe Pope (for the Episcopal Co-Prince)
French citizens (five years, renewable once consecutively) (for the French Co-Prince)

Origin and development of the co-principality edit

Tradition holds that Charlemagne granted a charter to the Andorran people in return for their fighting against the Moors. The feudal overlord of this territory was at first the Count of Urgell. In 988, however, the count, Borrell II, gave Andorra to the Diocese of Urgell in exchange for land in Cerdanya.[3] The Bishop of Urgell, based in Seu d'Urgell, has ruled Andorra ever since.[4]

Before 1095, Andorra did not have any type of military protection, and since the Bishop of Urgell knew that the Count of Urgell wanted to reclaim the Andorran valleys,[4] he asked for help from the lord of Caboet. In 1095, the lord and the bishop signed a declaration of their co-sovereignty over Andorra. Arnalda, daughter of Arnau of Caboet, married the viscount of Castellbò, and both became viscounts of Castellbò and Cerdanya. Their daughter, Ermessenda,[5] married Roger Bernat II, the French count of Foix. They became, respectively, count and countess of Foix, viscount and viscountess of Castellbò and Cerdanya, and also co-sovereigns of Andorra (together with the Bishop of Urgell).[citation needed]

In the 11th century, a dispute arose between the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix. The conflict was mediated by Aragon in 1278, and led to the signing of the first paréage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the count[4] and the bishop. This gave the principality its territory and political form, and marked the formal commencement of Andorra's unique monarchical arrangement.[citation needed]

Through inheritance, the Foix title to Andorra passed to the kings of Navarre. After Henry III of Navarre was crowned Henry IV of France, he issued an edict in 1607 establishing the king of France and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes of Andorra. In 1812–13, the First French Empire annexed Catalonia and divided it into four départements, with Andorra forming part of the district of Puigcerdà (department of Sègre). Following the defeat of Napoleon I, a royal decree reversed this annexation, and Andorra reverted to its former independence and political state.[6][7][8] The French head of state—whether king, emperor, or president—has continued to serve as a co-prince of Andorra ever since.[citation needed]

Recent history edit

On 12 July 1934, Andorra's monarchical system was challenged by an adventurer named Boris Skossyreff, who issued a proclamation in Urgell declaring himself "Boris I, King of Andorra".[9] Though initially enjoying some support within Andorra's political establishment, he was ultimately arrested by Spanish authorities on 20 July 1934 after declaring war on the Bishop of Urgell (who had refused to relinquish his own claim to the principality). Skossyreff was expelled, and was never considered to have been the Andorran monarch in any legal sense.

Before 1993, Andorra had no codified constitution, and the exact prerogatives of the co-princes were not specifically defined in law. In March 1993, a Constitution was approved by a vote of the Andorran people and signed into law by the two reigning co-princes at the time: Bishop Joan Martí Alanis and President François Mitterrand. It clarified the continuance of the unique Andorran diarchy, and also delineated the precise role and prerogatives of the two co-princes. Prior to adoption of the Constitution, Andorra paid in odd-numbered years a tribute of approximately $460 to the French ruler, while on even-numbered years, it paid a tribute of approximately $12 to the Spanish bishop, plus six hams, six cheeses, and six live chickens. This medieval custom was subsequently abandoned in 1993.[10]

In 2009, French president Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to abdicate as French co-prince if the principality did not change its banking laws to eliminate its longstanding status as a tax haven.[11]

In 2014, Joan Enric Vives i Sicília said that he would abdicate as bishop of Urgell and co-prince of Andorra if the Andorran Parliament passed a law legalizing abortion. The bishopric would then be held in abeyance at least until the law had been promulgated, so that no cleric would have to sign it.[12] This would make Andorra the second country (after Belgium) where a head of state refused to sign a law legalizing voluntary interruption of pregnancy without preventing the law's promulgation.

Contemporary political role edit

The Constitution of Andorra carefully defines the exact role and prerogatives of the co-princes of Andorra today. The constitution establishes Andorra as a "parliamentary coprincipality",[13] providing for the Bishop of Urgell and the president of France to serve together as joint heads of state.[14] The constitution distinguishes between which powers they may exercise on their own (Article 46), and which require the countersignature of the head of the Andorran government, or the approval of the "Síndic General", the Andorran legislature (Article 45).

Powers the co-princes may exercise on their own include:[15]

  • Joint exercise of the "prerogative of grace" (the power to pardon);
  • Each co-prince may appoint one member of the Superior Council of Justice and one member of the Constitutional Tribunal;
  • Establishment of such services as they deem necessary to fulfil their constitutional prerogatives, and appointment of individuals to fulfil these services;
  • Requesting a preliminary judgement about the constitutionality of proposed laws, or of international treaties;
  • Agreeing to the text of any international treaty, prior to submitting it for parliamentary approval;
  • Bringing a case before the Constitutional Tribunal in the event of any conflict over the exercise of their constitutional prerogatives.

Powers the co-princes may exercise in conjunction with the head of government include:[16]

  • Calling for elections or referendums in accordance with constitutional provisions;
  • Appointing the head of government in accordance with constitutional provisions;
  • Dissolve the General Council (the Andorran legislature) prior to the expiration of its current term (but not until at least one year has passed since the prior election);[17]
  • Accrediting diplomatic representatives from Andorra to foreign states, and receive credentials of foreign representatives to Andorra;[a]
  • Appointing office-holders in accordance with appropriate constitutional provisions;
  • Sanctioning and enacting laws in accordance with constitutional provisions;
  • Granting formal consent to international treaties, once ratified by the General Council.

Each co-prince is granted an annual allowance by the General Council to dispose of as he or she sees fit.[18] Each appoints a personal representative in Andorra,[19] and in the case of incapacitation of one of them, the constitution provides for the other prince to govern in his or her absence, with the concurrence of the Andorran head of government or the General Council.[20]

Certain treaties require the participation of the co-princes (or their designated representatives) in their negotiation process as well as their final approval; these are detailed in Articles 66 and 67 of the constitution.

The co-princes jointly retain the right to propose amendments to the constitution; this same right rests with the General Council.[21] They have no veto power over legislation passed by the General Council, though they do retain a veto over certain international treaties, as described above.

Vacancy edit

In case of vacancy of either co-prince, Andorra "recognizes the validity of the interim procedures foreseen by their respective statuses, in order for the normal function of Andorran institutions not to be interrupted".[22]

List of rulers edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ This implies that the letters of credence of ambassadors of France to Andorra or vice-versa are signed twice by the French president: once as sender and once as recipient.

References edit

  1. ^ "The constitution of the Principality of Andorra". andorramania.com.
  2. ^ "Why is the President of France Co-Prince of Andorra?". Royal Central. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, serves as Co-Prince of Andorra in addition to his duties as French President and is one of the few examples of a democratically elected leader serving in a royal capacity in another country. Since 2003, the other Co-Prince is the bishop of Urgell from Spain, Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília.
  3. ^ "La formació d'Andorra". Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. Enciclopèdia Catalana. (in Catalan)
  4. ^ a b c Things about the history of Andorra Archived 9 February 2010 at archive.today French Co-prince (in Catalan)
  5. ^ "Ermessenda de Castellbò". Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. Enciclopèdia Catalana. (in Catalan)
  6. ^ Armengol Aleix 2009, p. 172.
  7. ^ Guillamet Anton 2009, p. 172.
  8. ^ Armengol Aleix 2009, p. 342, 343.
  9. ^ Events, Issues 19–24, p. 46, 1938
  10. ^ , from Time, 30 October 1978.
  11. ^ Sarkozy threatens to renounce Andorran title.
  12. ^ Jesús Bastante (22 September 2014). "La aprobación de la ley del Aborto en Andorra podría llevar a Vives a Barcelona". Religión. Periodisto Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  13. ^ Constitution of Andorra, 1:4.
  14. ^ Constitution of Andorra, 43:1–2.
  15. ^ Constitution of Andorra, Article 46.
  16. ^ Constitution of Andorra, Article 45.
  17. ^ Constitution of Andorra:45:1:E and 71:1–3.
  18. ^ Constitution of Andorra, 47.
  19. ^ Constitution of Andorra, 48.
  20. ^ Constitution of Andorra, 45:3.
  21. ^ Constitution of Andorra, 105.
  22. ^ Constitution of Andorra, 49.

Bibliography edit

  • Armengol Aleix, E. (2009). Andorra: un profund i llarg viatge (in Catalan). Andorra: Government of Andorra. ISBN 9789992005491.
  • Guillamet Anton, J. (2009). Andorra: nova aproximació a la història d'Andorra (in Catalan). Andorra: Revista Altaïr. ISBN 9788493622046.

External links edit

  • Representació de S.E. El Copríncep Francés
  • El Copríncep d'Urgell
  • Rulers.org – Andorra list of rulers for Andorra

princes, andorra, princes, andorra, jointly, heads, state, catalan, estat, principality, andorra, landlocked, microstate, lying, pyrenees, between, france, spain, founded, 1278, means, treaty, between, bishop, urgell, count, foix, this, unique, diarchical, arr. The co princes of Andorra are jointly the heads of state Catalan cap d estat 1 of the Principality of Andorra a landlocked microstate lying in the Pyrenees between France and Spain Founded in 1278 by means of a treaty between the bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix this unique diarchical arrangement has persisted through the Middle Ages to the present Currently the bishop of Urgell Joan Enric Vives Sicilia and the president of France Emmanuel Macron serve as Andorra s co princes following the transfer of the count of Foix s claims to the Crown of France and subsequently to the head of state of the French Republic Each co prince appoints a personal representative the episcopal co prince by Josep Maria Mauri and the French co prince currently being represented by Patrick Strzoda 2 Co Princes of AndorraCoprinceps d Andorra Catalan Coat of arms of High Authorities of AndorraIncumbentJoan Enric Vives i Siciliasince 12 May 2003Co incumbentEmmanuel Macronsince 14 May 2017DetailsStyleHis ExcellencyFirst monarchPere d UrtxRoger Bernard IIIFormation1278 746 years ago 1278 ResidenceLa Seu d Urgell Cathedral Spain Elysee Palace France AppointerThe Pope for the Episcopal Co Prince French citizens five years renewable once consecutively for the French Co Prince Contents 1 Origin and development of the co principality 2 Recent history 3 Contemporary political role 4 Vacancy 5 List of rulers 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External linksOrigin and development of the co principality editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message Tradition holds that Charlemagne granted a charter to the Andorran people in return for their fighting against the Moors The feudal overlord of this territory was at first the Count of Urgell In 988 however the count Borrell II gave Andorra to the Diocese of Urgell in exchange for land in Cerdanya 3 The Bishop of Urgell based in Seu d Urgell has ruled Andorra ever since 4 Before 1095 Andorra did not have any type of military protection and since the Bishop of Urgell knew that the Count of Urgell wanted to reclaim the Andorran valleys 4 he asked for help from the lord of Caboet In 1095 the lord and the bishop signed a declaration of their co sovereignty over Andorra Arnalda daughter of Arnau of Caboet married the viscount of Castellbo and both became viscounts of Castellbo and Cerdanya Their daughter Ermessenda 5 married Roger Bernat II the French count of Foix They became respectively count and countess of Foix viscount and viscountess of Castellbo and Cerdanya and also co sovereigns of Andorra together with the Bishop of Urgell citation needed In the 11th century a dispute arose between the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix The conflict was mediated by Aragon in 1278 and led to the signing of the first pareage which provided that Andorra s sovereignty be shared between the count 4 and the bishop This gave the principality its territory and political form and marked the formal commencement of Andorra s unique monarchical arrangement citation needed Through inheritance the Foix title to Andorra passed to the kings of Navarre After Henry III of Navarre was crowned Henry IV of France he issued an edict in 1607 establishing the king of France and the Bishop of Urgell as co princes of Andorra In 1812 13 the First French Empire annexed Catalonia and divided it into four departements with Andorra forming part of the district of Puigcerda department of Segre Following the defeat of Napoleon I a royal decree reversed this annexation and Andorra reverted to its former independence and political state 6 7 8 The French head of state whether king emperor or president has continued to serve as a co prince of Andorra ever since citation needed Recent history editOn 12 July 1934 Andorra s monarchical system was challenged by an adventurer named Boris Skossyreff who issued a proclamation in Urgell declaring himself Boris I King of Andorra 9 Though initially enjoying some support within Andorra s political establishment he was ultimately arrested by Spanish authorities on 20 July 1934 after declaring war on the Bishop of Urgell who had refused to relinquish his own claim to the principality Skossyreff was expelled and was never considered to have been the Andorran monarch in any legal sense Before 1993 Andorra had no codified constitution and the exact prerogatives of the co princes were not specifically defined in law In March 1993 a Constitution was approved by a vote of the Andorran people and signed into law by the two reigning co princes at the time Bishop Joan Marti Alanis and President Francois Mitterrand It clarified the continuance of the unique Andorran diarchy and also delineated the precise role and prerogatives of the two co princes Prior to adoption of the Constitution Andorra paid in odd numbered years a tribute of approximately 460 to the French ruler while on even numbered years it paid a tribute of approximately 12 to the Spanish bishop plus six hams six cheeses and six live chickens This medieval custom was subsequently abandoned in 1993 10 In 2009 French president Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to abdicate as French co prince if the principality did not change its banking laws to eliminate its longstanding status as a tax haven 11 In 2014 Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia said that he would abdicate as bishop of Urgell and co prince of Andorra if the Andorran Parliament passed a law legalizing abortion The bishopric would then be held in abeyance at least until the law had been promulgated so that no cleric would have to sign it 12 This would make Andorra the second country after Belgium where a head of state refused to sign a law legalizing voluntary interruption of pregnancy without preventing the law s promulgation Contemporary political role editThe Constitution of Andorra carefully defines the exact role and prerogatives of the co princes of Andorra today The constitution establishes Andorra as a parliamentary coprincipality 13 providing for the Bishop of Urgell and the president of France to serve together as joint heads of state 14 The constitution distinguishes between which powers they may exercise on their own Article 46 and which require the countersignature of the head of the Andorran government or the approval of the Sindic General the Andorran legislature Article 45 Powers the co princes may exercise on their own include 15 Joint exercise of the prerogative of grace the power to pardon Each co prince may appoint one member of the Superior Council of Justice and one member of the Constitutional Tribunal Establishment of such services as they deem necessary to fulfil their constitutional prerogatives and appointment of individuals to fulfil these services Requesting a preliminary judgement about the constitutionality of proposed laws or of international treaties Agreeing to the text of any international treaty prior to submitting it for parliamentary approval Bringing a case before the Constitutional Tribunal in the event of any conflict over the exercise of their constitutional prerogatives Powers the co princes may exercise in conjunction with the head of government include 16 Calling for elections or referendums in accordance with constitutional provisions Appointing the head of government in accordance with constitutional provisions Dissolve the General Council the Andorran legislature prior to the expiration of its current term but not until at least one year has passed since the prior election 17 Accrediting diplomatic representatives from Andorra to foreign states and receive credentials of foreign representatives to Andorra a Appointing office holders in accordance with appropriate constitutional provisions Sanctioning and enacting laws in accordance with constitutional provisions Granting formal consent to international treaties once ratified by the General Council Each co prince is granted an annual allowance by the General Council to dispose of as he or she sees fit 18 Each appoints a personal representative in Andorra 19 and in the case of incapacitation of one of them the constitution provides for the other prince to govern in his or her absence with the concurrence of the Andorran head of government or the General Council 20 Certain treaties require the participation of the co princes or their designated representatives in their negotiation process as well as their final approval these are detailed in Articles 66 and 67 of the constitution The co princes jointly retain the right to propose amendments to the constitution this same right rests with the General Council 21 They have no veto power over legislation passed by the General Council though they do retain a veto over certain international treaties as described above Vacancy editIn case of vacancy of either co prince Andorra recognizes the validity of the interim procedures foreseen by their respective statuses in order for the normal function of Andorran institutions not to be interrupted 22 List of rulers editMain article List of Co Princes of AndorraSee also editList of heads of government of Andorra Portals nbsp Andorra nbsp France nbsp SpainNotes edit This implies that the letters of credence of ambassadors of France to Andorra or vice versa are signed twice by the French president once as sender and once as recipient References edit The constitution of the Principality of Andorra andorramania com Why is the President of France Co Prince of Andorra Royal Central 7 October 2019 Retrieved 9 November 2019 The President of France Emmanuel Macron serves as Co Prince of Andorra in addition to his duties as French President and is one of the few examples of a democratically elected leader serving in a royal capacity in another country Since 2003 the other Co Prince is the bishop of Urgell from Spain Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia La formacio d Andorra Gran Enciclopedia Catalana Enciclopedia Catalana in Catalan a b c Things about the history of Andorra Archived 9 February 2010 at archive today French Co prince in Catalan Ermessenda de Castellbo Gran Enciclopedia Catalana Enciclopedia Catalana in Catalan Armengol Aleix 2009 p 172 Guillamet Anton 2009 p 172 Armengol Aleix 2009 p 342 343 Events Issues 19 24 p 46 1938 Andorra Septicentennial for a Ministate from Time 30 October 1978 Sarkozy threatens to renounce Andorran title Jesus Bastante 22 September 2014 La aprobacion de la ley del Aborto en Andorra podria llevar a Vives a Barcelona Religion Periodisto Digital in Spanish Retrieved 3 January 2023 Constitution of Andorra 1 4 Constitution of Andorra 43 1 2 Constitution of Andorra Article 46 Constitution of Andorra Article 45 Constitution of Andorra 45 1 E and 71 1 3 Constitution of Andorra 47 Constitution of Andorra 48 Constitution of Andorra 45 3 Constitution of Andorra 105 Constitution of Andorra 49 Bibliography editArmengol Aleix E 2009 Andorra un profund i llarg viatge in Catalan Andorra Government of Andorra ISBN 9789992005491 Guillamet Anton J 2009 Andorra nova aproximacio a la historia d Andorra in Catalan Andorra Revista Altair ISBN 9788493622046 External links editRepresentacio de S E El Coprincep Frances El Coprincep d Urgell Rulers org Andorra list of rulers for Andorra Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Co Princes of Andorra amp oldid 1221480590, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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