Andorra la VellaThe General Council has approved this Thursday a motion promoted by P.S which urges the Government to prepare a study to address the needs of the penitentiary center and present a bill to modify the qualified penitentiary law before 2025. The motion, which includes amendments of Concordia and Democrats, seeks to guarantee a more balanced penal system aligned with the recommendations of Council of Europe.
The approved amendments extend the term for the study from six to twelve months and propose a review of the criminal procedure code to ensure that preventive arrest is only applied in strictly necessary cases. They also include measures to provide the system with sufficient human and material resources, following a rigorous action plan, as the deputy president of the group emphasized democratMaria Martisella.
The controversy over PS data
One of the highlights of the debate was the public denial of Martisella to the data presented by Susanna Veladeputy president of P.Son the conditions of the penitentiary center. Vela had stated that some cells had an area of 7.5 square meters and that, sometimes, more than two people lived in a cell.
Martisella called this data wrong, pointing out that the smallest cells are from 10 square meters and that only four of the 54 are occupied by three inmates. He asked for more rigor on sensitive issues: “When we debate these issues, let’s do it with data real i contrasted“.
In response, sailing defended his intervention by stating that the information had been provided to him by other sources and that “in no case was the intention deceive or dramatize the situation”. He acknowledged, however, that it is necessary to review the origin of this data.
Despite the controversy, the parliamentary groups agreed on the need to improve the conditions of the penitentiary center, with an emphasis on following the recommendations of the Council of Europe. Maria Àngels Aché, of concordstressed the importance of offering activities that guarantee a effective reintegration and respect for human rightswhile Carles Naudi, from Engaged Citizensstressed the need for minimal resources without turning the center into “a five-star hotel”.