Less taxes but more Catalan. Foreign residents who set their sights on Andorra for tax purposes will have to give a little of themselves by learning the basics of the principality’s official language. And, for the less gifted among them, by following 30 hours of Catalan lessons in a training center.
The Andorran parliament adopted a law on Thursday making the granting or renewal of a residence permit conditional on a minimum knowledge of the Catalan language. The law presented by the government aims to promote the use of Catalan, which is spoken less and less in the principality. Spanish is much more widespread in the tiny country of the Pyrenees where Andorrans represent half of the 80,000 inhabitants but where also live 25,000 Spaniards, 9,000 Portuguese and 4,000 French.
Accusations of totalitarian drift
Attracted by an advantageous tax regime, many European Union nationals have settled in Andorra in recent years. Among them, athletes like MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo, or Spanish Youtubers. In 2024, nearly 3,000 residence permits must be renewed. Under conditions therefore.
“The spirit (of the law) is to protect our language, which is a sign of identity and sovereignty,” said Andorran Culture Minister Monica Bonell. For businesses that contravene the obligation to display in Catalan, the text provides for severe fines of up to 60,000 euros.
“We do not agree with these extremist fines if you do not speak Catalan, I think we are sliding towards a totalitarian country,” said Carine Montaner, president of the Andorra Endavant parliamentary group (Andorra forward), who voted against the text, adopted by 25 votes to 3. The elected official also fears “a drain of talent”.