Antoni Martí

From 2016, BPA's former owners, Catalan officials and several media outlets alleged that pressure from Spain's 'patriotic police' over accounts linked to Catalan independence supporters had preceded the intervention in BPA. The controversy notably concerns what Antoni Martí knew about this pressure and whether the Andorran executive was a victim, mere recipient or participant in the process.

In 2019, Higini Cierco, former majority shareholder of BPA, lodged a criminal complaint accusing Antoni Martí, Jordi Cinca, Gilbert Saboya and other officials of abuse of office in their handling of the banking crisis. The admission of the complaint for investigation in 2020 fuelled several years of legal allegations against the former head of government.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

direct criminal complaint against Martí

In 2016, reports revealed that Democratic MP Meritxell Mateu had received 48,000 euros through a company linked to BPA's former chief executive while holding public office. Martí initially supported her, stating that he believed her account and would require evidence of criminal wrongdoing before supporting resignation. Mateu resigned shortly afterwards and was subsequently convicted of corruption in the case.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

During his terms, Martí maintained Andorra's criminal ban on abortion. In 2018, as calls for decriminalisation became more prominent, he publicly stated that such reform could make it impossible to retain the episcopal Co-Prince, thereby prioritising preservation of the institutional structure over immediate decriminalisation.

State of the evidence

Established

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

The civil service reform advanced at the end of Martí's government prompted exceptional mobilisation among public employees; Freedom House noted a strike described as the first major national strike of its kind in approximately 85 years. After the law was adopted, the Constitutional Court annulled two articles in May 2019, notably concerning the organisation of positions and regulatory determination of working days and hours.

State of the evidence

Established

In February 2019, digital media outlets published allegations that Antoni Martí had received commissions or bribes in connection with the award of the casino concession to Jocs SA. The articles notably referred to supposed meetings with an official of the successful company.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

direct personal allegation against Martí

Trade unions referred public IT procurement contracts awarded by administrations or public entities to SPAI, a company in which Antoni Martí's brother was a senior manager and significant shareholder, to prosecutors. The case became a conflict-of-interest and public procurement controversy dubbed the 'Martí connection' in the press.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

The Cloud property and technology project, promoted by Andorra Telecom under Martí's government, saw its cost estimates rise substantially and faced repeated questions about viability, prospective tenants and profitability. In July 2018, the project was halted. The government subsequently stated that 3.33 million euros had already been spent or committed, prompting the opposition to denounce a waste of public money.

State of the evidence

Established

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Following the award of the casino concession to Jocs SA, several unsuccessful bidders challenged the tender. Five appeals sought complete annulment, citing serious deficiencies and allegedly subjective assessment. Martí's government rejected the administrative appeals while making minor adjustments to some scores without changing the ranking.

State of the evidence

Documented

In 2017, Antoni Martí confirmed that he had undertaken and invoiced an architectural property project for the Cierco family, then shareholders of BPA, while serving as cònsol major of Escaldes-Engordany. The press reported a transaction of approximately 344,000 euros linked to this work, and the episode fuelled allegations of incompatibility and closeness to the Ciercos, which became particularly sensitive after the BPA crisis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Following US FinCEN's designation of BPA as an institution of primary money-laundering concern, Andorran authorities intervened in the bank and replaced its management. Martí's government's handling of this systemic crisis became the central issue of his second term, with serious consequences for Andorra's financial sector.

State of the evidence

Established

Following revelations of Finance Minister Jordi Cinca's former involvement in a Panamanian entity and the PS's call for his resignation, Martí personally offered strong support and accused the opposition of damaging the country's image. Several opposition groups also criticised the tone of his response.

State of the evidence

Documented

Minister Jordi Alcobé acknowledged that he had continued paid work for BPA for a period after becoming a minister. He offered his resignation, but Martí initially refused to accept it and kept him in office for approximately three weeks. Following Alcobé's irrevocable resignation, Martí acknowledged before the General Council that he had been wrong and should have listened to him from the outset.

State of the evidence

Documented

Person targeted by the proceedings

Jordi Alcobé

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

From 2011, Martí's government pursued the creation of a tax on employment and capital income, resulting in the IRPF adopted in 2014. The reform sparked political controversy because the IRPF had not been explicitly announced in Demòcrates per Andorra's election programme, and opponents accused the majority of changing an important tax promise.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Martí's first government supported locating the national heliport at Roc de Patapou despite strong opposition from the Comú d'Andorra la Vella and local residents. A legal challenge also questioned the family relationship between a government technical adviser and an official associated with one bidder's project. After several months of conflict, the government abandoned Patapou following an unfavourable technical opinion and acknowledged approximately 20,772 euros in project expenditure.

State of the evidence

Documented

Towards the end of his term as cònsol major, the Comú d'Escaldes-Engordany hosted, as part of the Capital de la Culture Catalane, the presentation of a book with the provocative title 'Jesucrit era marica'. The Archpriest of the Valleys publicly criticised the Comú for hosting an event he considered offensive to religious sentiments.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable