the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are
represented locally by officials called veguers
National 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
National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in
1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) and
Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31
January 1971); note-each coprince is represented by a veguer (French:
Jean-Pierre COURTOIS; Spanish: Francesc BADIA Battalla)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
(since 21 December 1994)
cabinet: Executive Council designated by the executive council
president
elections: executive council president elected by the General Council
and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held 16
February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council
president; percent of General Council vote-NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or
Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to
represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held February 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party-UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%, ND
7%, other 8%; seats by party-UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) two
civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by
the coprinces alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo
de Urgel (Spain); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal des Cortes
presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers,
and two members of the General Council
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group or AND [Oscar
RIBAS Reig]; Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; New Democracy or
ND [Jaume BARTOMEU Cassany]; Andorran National Coalition or CNA
[Anton
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