www.elperiodic.ad DIMARTS, 10 DE JULIOL DEL 2018 el Periòdic d’ 19

CONEIXEMENT SOBRE

d'Andorra L’ÚS DE LES TECNOLOGIES elelENGLISHTema PeriòdicPeriòdic del EDITION dia NewsS A Txx 7 DECISION AFTER SUMMER HIATUS Vila lengthens rent investigation due to continuing complaints The Ombudsman continues to receive two or three The body has not yet received cases of concern visits a week for disproportionate price increases of seasonal workers in the face of the new season

TONY LARA June, and the Minister of the Pres- idency, Economy and Enterprise, Jordi Gallardo, stressed that the re- sponse they have obtained so far from this measure has been posi- tive. In any case, according to the Minister Spokesman, Eric Jover, in his appearance last Wednesday, within the Government team there is still no firm decision on the mat- ter. Therefore, the Ombudsman hopes that there will be a clear posi- tioning of the Executive before an- nouncing any result on his report.

The Ombudsman awaits to see how the Government will react in front of the housing situation Seasonal workers say that finding a flat is complicated because of the prices and the requirements demanded

THE SEARCH BY SEASONAL WORKERS While the Government will speak/ about the progress on housing at the next meeting of the Commis- sion, which will be held this Sep- A sign indicates that the flats in the block are for rent. tember although there is no defi- nite date, workers who plan to come EL PERIÒDIC price of rent, which has reached have not considered closing it be- are considering renewing the meas- to stay the winter season in the Prin- ESCALDES-ENGORDANY 40, 50, 60 or 70% and in some cas- cause I am waiting for how the Gov- ure that extends a year the lease cipality have already begun search- @PeriodicAND es even above this percentage, but ernment acts on the issue of rents», contracts that expire and which ing for flats and have begun to ex- he Ombudsman, Marc Vila, he has also received complaints re- said Vila expectantly. prevents raising the price beyond press their concern after realising has decided to extend his ex- lated to the Law of leases, contract In fact, in recent weeks, sever- the CPI. He spoke about the mat- that the situation is quite compli- officio investigation on the rescissions, increases in expenses, al representatives of the Executive ter at the last meeting of the Na- cated. The Ombudsman has not yet Tproblems of access to hous- especially in terms of heating bills, have already announced that they tional Housing Commission in late received complaints from season- ing because, as he said in a state- and problems with the return of the al workers, but those who are plan- ment to EL PERIÒDIC, «the trickle of deposit. «This never ends, every day ning to come have already used so- complaints remains constant and there are new cases», admitted the the keys cial networks for their doubts and each week I attend between two and Ombudsman. concerns. As Coti Vasquez said, three visits of people who have re- Although his aim was to pre- In October 2018 the Ombuds- Taking into account all the visits who will be coming to the Princi- ceived a letter from their landlord pare a report with as much infor- man decided to open an in- since he represents the institu- pality for a second season, «the is- informing them of an increase in mation as possible on problems of 1 vestigation regarding the prob- 2 tion, Vila received more than a sue of flats is the most complicated, lems of access to housing after the price of rent or the termination access to housing and present it to hundred complaints, either by since the prices for seasonal work- detecting many cases of rent increases in the price of rent, of the contract directly. the General Council and other insti- increases. contract rescissions... ers are much higher than normal Since the investigation began in tutions, Vila initially indicated that and there are more requirements, October last year, the complaints he would wait for the general elec- Although he hoped to close the In addition, Vila said he is wait- such as having a contract or pay in have not ceased and in spring had tions to be held and for the new leg- 3 investigation when there was 4 ing to see how the Govern- advance three or four months of already exceeded one hundred. As islative and executive bodies to be a new government to whom ment acts on the matter, as he rent. Therefore, most end up opt- present the results, he has de- recently announced that he is Vila repeatedly specified, the ma- constituted before passing on the ing to share a flat or rent rooms», cided to lengthen it due to the considering renewing the ex- jority are for the increase in the conclusions of his investigation. «I constant complaints. tension of rents. Vasquez explained. H 18 www.elperiodic.ad SATURDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 el Periòdic News

Football FAF elections «There3 will always be some continuity but the closed circle and the bad habits must change» FÈLIX ÁLVAREZ Candidate for the presidency of the Andorran Football Federation

MARICEL BLANCH EL PERIÒDIC ESCALDES-ENGORDANY @PeriodicAND Former international player Fèlix Ál- varez is one of the candidates for the presidency of the Andorran Football Federation (FAF). Álvarez stands, a pri- ori, as the favourite candidate after having achieved more endorsements than his rival, Carles Riba, and is com- mitted to conveying a message of transparency.

–How is the vote collection going? –I’m in favour of people having to know us and that’s why we have to get rid of this continuist label. We have visited practically all the presi- dents and we will go visit those who have not given us the endorsement, we want to explain our programme, which will be based on transparency.

–How can you prove that it will not be continuist? –If we give it the meaning that the word itself has, there will be some continuity. There are some things that are being done properly and oth- ers that must be corrected. There are many mechanisms fixed at the feder- ation that come from UEFA and FIFA, which make an annual audit. FIFA’s has not found anything in the eco- nomic impact but it has found some formal defects. We are seeing that there was a very closed circle, with some bad habits already created and we consider that this is the first thing that will have to change, but there will always be some continuity.

–Will there be transparency with the clubs and the media? –Yes, in both cases we must be com- pletely transparent. There are presi- dents who do not know certain things Fèlix Álvarez, candidate for president of the Andorran Football Federation, explains his programme to EL PERIÒDIC, Thursday. and we want the clubs to know clear- 33 ly how much money is allocated for them and how much is going towards they will hold it for us until after the –What are the other points? times, we should take in more staff. the national team. We also want the elections. If we win, we’ll talk to them –We want to boost marketing and ad- On the negative side, the Federation league and the federation to be two because it’s a nice project. vertising. We don’t know how to sell has been guilty of a lack of transpar- entities but within the same FAF. The the image of the federation. Things ency. It has not been able to transmit clubs need the federation and vice ver- –Will the facilities be improved? are being done and people don’t the management that was being done sa. Therefore, financially we want the –Yes. There is a project in terms of know about it. We also want to apply and this has created uncertainty for league and the federation to be man- facilities that is being renegotiated, a special measure which depending many people. aged independently. Until now, peo- which are the locker rooms in Bor- «We want the on how we do it, could go wrong. They ple took a lot of things for granted da Mateu. From the reports I’ve seen, would be subsidies to clubs adapted –What distances you the most from and now we will have to explain eve- there’s an issue of turf use. It is not be- federation and the to certain parameters. That is to say, Carles Riba? rything. We are open to everyone. ing respected because it is being used depending on what the clubs con- –I’m surprised they said they wanted three times more than recommend- national league to be tribute, they will be given the subsi- to strengthen the youth academy be- –What are the other points of your pro- ed. Instead of 30 hours a week it is be- financially managed dy. An example would be to organ- cause it is what the federation is cur- gramme? ing used 90 hours. ise a tournament. We want to contin- rently doing. –We have 20 but we want to fight for separately and ue with our solidarity initiatives and facilities, ie, build more fields and –What about the National Stadium? independently» strengthen them because this would –Talking about the youth academy. improve the ones we have. Now the –We would like each parish to have eliminate this image of an arrogant What is the future of the ENFAF teams works have been stopped, but not be- a field, that the clubs could play at federation that has a lot of money. We considering that the youth academy of cause of the current case, but because home, a fact that would lead to many do but we want to help. FC Andorra exists? of the holidays and the landslide. Eve- changes in the league. One of the –At the beginning there was uncer- rything continues as planned. projects that will now be put into op- –What needs to be changed the most? tainty because the clubs demanded eration is having an ambulance on –The youth academy has worked very a change, because the ENFAF is a self- –What is the situation with the fields the field and this will be assumed by well and there have been good results financing entity. The clubs thought planned in Encamp? the FAF. Not having a field for each in terms of national teams. In terms of that if it disappeared, this subsidy –It was stopped when Operation Cau- team limits a lot in order to have a typ- administration, the FAF has grown a would go to the clubs. There seemed txú came out, but UEFA had already ical football operation. They are look- lot. If we win the elections, we’ll have to be an understanding to try to get authorised it and there was a pre-con- ing for land but it is very complicated to study the jobs because they’re very FC Andorra to have the best players tract. I have spoken to the owner and and the rents are too expensive. busy. We’ll have to see if, at certain and ENFAF to be the second team but www.elperiodic.ad SATURDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 el Periòdicel Periòdic d’Andorra News 1921

Football FAF elections Pages 18 and 19

MARICEL BLANCH 3 –Are you considering an agreement with FC Andorra? –Yes, it can be positive. We must go «There will always be some continuity but the hand in hand. In a given moment we could consider making a collabora- tion to make a stadium for everyone. Next year, if they are promoted, they will need one with more capacity. It «The federation has is not a question of each parish hav- closed circle and the bad habits must change» ing a National Stadium, there should lacked transparency, be a field for the parish and a stadium that could host matches of FC Andor- hasn’t been able ra and the national team. We should to transmit its MARICEL BLANCH resume the conversations with FC An- dorra and collaborate. management and this created uncertainty» –The elections are marked by Opera- tion Cautxú. Has it been the main topic of conversation with the clubs? «We should resume –They had their discomfort but they the conversations saw that the Federation, and respect- ing the presumption of innocence of with FC Andorra and those involved, at the moment does we could consider not seem to be the most harmed. This has mitigated the fact that the clubs collaborating to build have felt harmed because it has not af- fected them directly. a stadium»

–You have been able to see the FAF’s «Going to an numbers and many documents. How did you take the decision to run? In independent audit other words, are you worried? can be considered –At first I was not clear about it but I was motivated to run for the fact that but Gaudit deserves Fèlix Álvarez talks to EL PERIÒDIC, Thursday. within the information they gave me our trust because they 33 such as the audit and the annual ac- counts and the information that was are professionals» –Returning to Operation Cautxú. Do The clubs that have played in the sum- appearing in the media, there was you intend to make the FAF go through mer do not receive the UEFA’s subsi- not much reality. There were many «The fact that the FAF an independent audit or to a voluntary dy until November or December and things that were distorted because audit by the Court of Auditors? there are a series of expenses. This con- many of them could be perfectly justi- acts as a bank, is a –No, we have not considered going to cept of being a lender, what the FAF fied. I saw that the numbers that were good deed, I don’t see the Court of Auditors. Going to an in- does is to give in advance the money being presented had logic. In that mo- dependent audit can be considered to the clubs so that they can pay off ment, I saw that it is a new era and it very logical having to but Gaudit deserves our trust because these expenses and in November or that it is a good moment. I don’t want resort to a bank if the they are professional people. Howev- when they receive the money from to assess what has been done before er, perhaps we are forced to ask for a UEFA, it is deducted from the club. I but, looking at the 2018’s figures, it FAF has the money» second opinion, but now it is hasty don’t see it logical having to resort to seemed like they were talking about to say. a bank, especially because of the inter- two different realities. –What do you think about the fact that ests of asking for a loan. If the FAF has there are people who are working in –If you win the elections, will the FAF be the money, it should help. The fact –Are you completely at ease with the the federation and at the same time a plaintiff or a civilian body? that it acts as a bank is a good deed. management that has been done? have important positions in the clubs? –I couldn’t say. It will depend on the –I wouldn’t dare say I’m not worried. –What we will do is see what kind of information that comes out. –Why didn’t the FAF appear at the law- I haven’t had access to all the infor- work each person is doing. It’s diffi- suit before? mation from the Police and the Batl- cult not to have anyone who is linked –What do you think of the clubs that –It wasn’t done before nor did they lia and I’m not a lawyer, I can’t assess to a club because in Andorra we are have joined the case against the FAF? acted because it took us all by sur- what can be considered a crime or few people and sometimes you have –I find it logical. From the outside, it prise, the whole Andorran fabric. It not, but the management is more fo- trouble finding people. Therefore, we may seem that there have been some was decided to wait and see how the cused on formal defects than having will study each case and if there is no actions that have been badly carried case evolved. an economic impact. kind of misunderstanding, they will out. I think it’s right that they think stay the same. this could have affected the federa- –There is an Andorran who is making a Fèlix Álvarez, candidate for president of the Andorran Football Federation, explains his programme to EL PERIÒDIC, Thursday. –Is this what happened with Salus tion. Why four and not the rest? I do living in the offices of the First Division. 33 Chato? –A visible case is that of the U21 na- not know the advice they have had Would you count on him or would you there was some controversy. The FAF –Yes, the issue of Salus and other pub- tional team’s coach. and if they have any information that like to work with him? wanted to maintain its work system, lic and semi-public personnel, I un- –We were looking for people. We con- we don’t. But if each year they received –I have played with Toni Lima and I focused on how the national team derstand that he was obliged to de- tacted Òscar Sonejée but he did not ac- what is due, I see no harm in the eco- consider him a very good person. He plays and FC Andorra was not so sup- clare the IRPF, but could be exempt. cept the proposal. The match was im- nomic field. The damage would be has been linked to Andorran football portive of that because they wanted minent and we didn’t have anyone more in terms of management. and knows this world of football very to opt for the style of each coach. I also –Who will be the General Secretary of else who was linked to the federation well. I don’t know how he could help, understand that this was not wanted the FAF? and who knew the boys. It was done –The summary states that the FAF but I don’t rule him out. I don’t know because Gerard Piqué did not want to –It’s a matter that concerns us. One of for this game, because it was an emer- would have acted as a lender. if he would be interested in being in get involved with the Federation for the solutions could be to outsource gency. From the 12th, we will study –It is an example of what I was saying. a small federation. He is used to im- Operation Cautxú. These negotiations it, that is, to take a human resources who occupies the position. But we are It seems more as a mismanagement portant challenges, he could be a val- were carried out by Justo Ruiz. company and make a selection. very limited by the qualification. than as having an economic impact. id person because of his knowledge. H el Periòdic News 20 www.elperiodic.ad SATURDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2019

QUESTION FOR THE GOVERNMENT TOURISM

MARICEL BLANCH Hotel occupancy reaches almost 77% in August , Encamp over is concerned, 76% increased it, and out of this percentage 36% and Escaldes are the most of the participants increased it by demanded parishes around 5%. On the other hand, 19% had a lower turnover and on- EL PERIÒDIC ly 5% remained the same. ESCALDES-ENGORDANY

Hotel occupancy in August was AUGUST, THE BEST MONTH In rela- 76.74%, slightly higher than last tion to the summer months,/ Au- year, when it stood at 75.74%, as gust was the best for the country’s reported Thursday by the Hotel hoteliers, as the occupancy in Ju- Union (UHA). By parishes, Andor- ly was 59.17% –compared to 54.76 ra la Vella was the most demand- last year– and June 47.15% –com- The main access to el Cedre socio-sanitary centre, in Santa Coloma. ed with 84.47% of reservations, fol- pared to 39.15% in 2018–. 33 lowed by Encamp with 84.43% and However, it must be remem- Escaldes with 83.36%. In this sense, bered that the UHA forecasts in it is worth noting the increase of mid-summer placed the hotel oc- PS calls for explanations the parish of Encamp compared cupancy at 48% in July and 35% in to 2018, since then the occupancy August, well below what they have was 68.71% because Pas de la Casa finally been. for el Cedre’s dismissals was included as part of the parish. H The occupation this August in the Gili wants to know the are aware of a high number of dis- Gili reminds that el Cedre «is town was 38.50%. missals among workers and ex- a care centre for the elderly and/ The occupancy in Ordino was the figures personnel ratio for the presses her «concern» about how or disabled, who require contin- 80.73%, in la Massana 78.77%, in residents in the centre this may affect the quality of the uous and stable health and social Canillo 72.85% and in Sant Julià de service provided to residents. care according to the SAAS’s defi- Lòria 65.37%. 84.47% was the In the letter, the Social Demo- nition». Thus, she wants to know occupancy in Andorra la Vella, EL PERIÒDIC crat asks to know, first of all, the «taking into account this consider- PRICES AND TURNOVER As report- the most demanded parish. ESCALDES-ENGORDANY number of residents in the cen- ation what personnel ratios are ap- ed by the UHA, an aspect/ to high- @PeriodicAND tre, which she would like to be in- plicable to the centre». light is the evolution of prices. 79% he General Councillor for formed of with the distribution The Councillor also inquired of participants in the survey in- 79% of hoteliers in- PS Rosa Gili processed on by floors and according to the de- about «the size of the overall staff» creased their average price and out creased their average price Thirsday a battery of ques- gree of dependency and the assist- and asked that it be broken down of this percentage 38% increased it during the month of August. Ttions to the Government ance regimes needed. She also asks by category, as well as the descrip- by around 5% with respect to the to know the situation of the socio- «how many of them need constant tion of the jobs and the list of tasks previous year. On the other hand, of establish- sanitary centre el Cedre, especial- health care» and «how often are assigned, among other questions 14% of the participants lowered it, 76% ments increased their turnover ly with regard to its personnel. In the degrees of dependency updat- which the Executive must answer and 7% maintained it. in the last month. this regard, Gili stressed that they ed» and «who does it». in writing. As far as the evolution of turn- H

UNCERTAIN FUTURE INTERNATIONAL MEETING The purchase of the land of Prat Gran Two Andorrans will be at of Encamp would cost 38 million euros the Wide Youth Forum

COMÚ D’ENCAMP The comú calls for a town land, which would have a value of The event will be held in dorran youth people who are in- 38 million euros, as explained the terested can apply to represent meeting next Wednesday PS+Independent Councillor Joan Bratislava from 28 to 29 the country at this event. Two peo- to talk about the matter Sans to the Andorran News Agency October 2019 ple will be chosen from among all (ANA), although the comú did not those who will submit an appli- EL PERIÒDIC make any statement in this regard. EL PERIÒDIC cation, a girl and a boy, aged be- ESCALDES-ENGORDANY For Sans «a decision such as this ANDORRA LA VELLA tween 18 and 29. The information The Comú of Encamp has called one does not correspond to the cur- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs re- of the two chosen will be sent to for next Wednesday an informa- rent corporation to make it», as it ported that the Organisation for the OSCE, who will make the final tive town meeting at la Valireta to would mean «mortgaging the fu- Security and Co-operation in Eu- selection of the representative of talk about the future of Prat Gran’s ture Government». He also ques- rope (OSCE) will hold the OSCE the Principality in the Forum. park, one of the most used public tioned the legality of the purchase, Wide Youth Forum in Bratislava, The OSCE will take care of the spaces in the parish both by the cit- since it would increase the debt of Slovakia, from 28 to 29 October stay in Bratislava, including ac- izenry and for organizing sever- the Comú of Encamp above what 2019. The aim of the event is to in- commodation and meals. The al typed of events. The rental con- the Law of comú finances dictates. volve young people in the work of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its tract where the park is located is Sans said that his group has asked the organisation for a safer future part, will cover the cost of travel renewed each year within a unit for alternatives to the majority, and, precisely for this reason, has to and from the capital. The initi- of action, and for this reason the like for example moving the green called for the participation of its ative is part of the Strengthening corporation would be studying area to another land «such as the 57 member states. OSCE Youth and Security Efforts the possibility of purchasing the Prat de Genil». An activity held in the park. The Ministry reminded that An- project. H 33 H