Andorra - Political parties

Prior to 1993, political parties were illegal in Andorra, though the Democratic Party of Andorra (formed in 1979) was tolerated. There have been two main factions in organized political life— conservatives and liberals. However, in the 2001 elections, three parties with distinct political tenets competed: the conservative Liberal Party, the left-of-center Social Democratic Party, and the centrist Democratic Party.

The general election of December 1993, in which five parties gained representation, was the first under Andorra's new constitution. The 2001 General Council election results were as follows: the Liberal Party (Partit Liberal—PLA), 15 seats; the Social Democratic Party (Partit Socialdemòcrata—PSD), 6; the Democratic Party (Partit Demòcrata—PD), 5; and the local Lauredian Union (Unió Laurediana—UL), 2.