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Following the [[2017 Barcelona attacks|terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils]] on 17 August 2017, Martí offered a grand bargain to the opposition to provide the [[Police Corps of Andorra|Police Corps]] with more troops and create a specific counter-terrorism unit.<ref>[https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/59600/marti-proposa-la-creacio-duna-unitat-policial-per-lluitar-contra-el-terrorisme Martí proposa la creació d’una unitat policial per lluitar contra el terrorisme] {{in lang|ca}}</ref> The opposition rejected the proposal for such a specific unit<ref>[https://www.bondia.ad/politica/loposicio-considera-oportunista-i-innecessari-el-nou-pacte-destat L’oposició considera “oportunista” i “innecessari” el nou pacte d’Estat] {{in lang|ca}}</ref> and in September of that year it was made public that a police unit with anti-terrorist activity already existed for at least a year and a half to monitor a young man in the country who was in the process of radicalisation and had travelled to Syria.<ref>[https://www.altaveu.com/actualitat/el-grup-antiterrorista-que-toni-marti-diu-ara-que-preten-crear-fa-ben-be-un-any-i-mig-que_3566_102.html El grup antiterrorista que Toni Martí diu ara que pretén crear fa ben bé un any i mig que opera] {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
Following the [[2017 Barcelona attacks|terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils]] on 17 August 2017, Martí offered a grand bargain to the opposition to provide the [[Police Corps of Andorra|Police Corps]] with more troops and create a specific counter-terrorism unit.<ref>[https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/59600/marti-proposa-la-creacio-duna-unitat-policial-per-lluitar-contra-el-terrorisme Martí proposa la creació d’una unitat policial per lluitar contra el terrorisme] {{in lang|ca}}</ref> The opposition rejected the proposal for such a specific unit<ref>[https://www.bondia.ad/politica/loposicio-considera-oportunista-i-innecessari-el-nou-pacte-destat L’oposició considera “oportunista” i “innecessari” el nou pacte d’Estat] {{in lang|ca}}</ref> and in September of that year it was made public that a police unit with anti-terrorist activity already existed for at least a year and a half to monitor a young man in the country who was in the process of radicalisation and had travelled to Syria.<ref>[https://www.altaveu.com/actualitat/el-grup-antiterrorista-que-toni-marti-diu-ara-que-preten-crear-fa-ben-be-un-any-i-mig-que_3566_102.html El grup antiterrorista que Toni Martí diu ara que pretén crear fa ben bé un any i mig que opera] {{in lang|ca}}</ref>

When the President of the [[Generalitat de Catalunya]] [[Carles Puigdemont]] declared [[Catalan declaration of independence|
Catalonia's independence from Spain]], only to suspend it shortly afterwards, on 10 October 2017, Martí acknowledged that, although he stated that he had never proposed himself as mediator to the Spanish Prime Minister [[Mariano Rajoy]], he did have telephone contacts with both parties to discuss the constitutional crisis.<ref>[https://www.ara.ad/politica/govern-ministres-dimecres-situacio-catalunya_1_1293507.html El Govern avança el consell de ministres d'aquest dimecres per tractar la situació de Catalunya] {{in lang|ca}}</ref>


In view of the [[2019 Andorran parliamentary election|elections in 2019]], Martí named [[Xavier Espot]] as his successor to the leadership of Democrats for Andorra and candidate for prime minister.<ref>[https://www.ara.ad/societat/marxa-toni-marti-politic-invicte_1_4849667.html Marxa Toni Martí, el polític invicte] {{in lang|ca}}</ref> Following DA's victory in those elections, on 16 May 2019 Antoni Martí was succeeded as prime minister by Espot.<ref>[https://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/nacional/2019/05/16/xavier_espot_jura_com_cap_govern_145869_1125.html Xavier Espot jura com a cap de Govern] {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
In view of the [[2019 Andorran parliamentary election|elections in 2019]], Martí named [[Xavier Espot]] as his successor to the leadership of Democrats for Andorra and candidate for prime minister.<ref>[https://www.ara.ad/societat/marxa-toni-marti-politic-invicte_1_4849667.html Marxa Toni Martí, el polític invicte] {{in lang|ca}}</ref> Following DA's victory in those elections, on 16 May 2019 Antoni Martí was succeeded as prime minister by Espot.<ref>[https://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/nacional/2019/05/16/xavier_espot_jura_com_cap_govern_145869_1125.html Xavier Espot jura com a cap de Govern] {{in lang|ca}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:28, 8 November 2023

In this Catalan name, the first or paternal surname is Martí and the second or maternal family name is Petit; both are generally joined by the conjunction "i".
Antoni Martí
Martí in 2014
Prime Minister of Andorra
In office
1 April 2015 – 16 May 2019
MonarchsEpiscopal co-prince:
Joan Enric Vives Sicília
French co-prince:
François Hollande
Emmanuel Macron
RepresentativeEpiscopal:
Josep Maria Mauri
French:
Thierry Lataste
Jean-Pierre Hugues
Patrick Strzoda
Preceded byGilbert Saboya Sunyé (acting)
Succeeded byXavier Espot Zamora
In office
12 May 2011 – 23 March 2015
MonarchsEpiscopal co-prince:
Joan Enric Vives Sicília
French co-prince:
Nicolas Sarkozy
François Hollande
RepresentativeEpiscopal:
Nemesi Marqués Oste
Josep Maria Mauri
French:
Christian Frémont
Sylvie Hubac
Thierry Lataste
Preceded byPere López Agràs (acting)
Succeeded byGilbert Saboya Sunyé (acting)
Personal details
Born(1963-07-30)30 July 1963
Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra
Died6 November 2023(2023-11-06) (aged 60)
Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra
Political partyDemocrats for Andorra
Alma materENSA Toulouse

Antoni Martí Petit (Catalan pronunciation: [ənˈtɔni məɾˈti pəˈtit]; 30 July 1963 – 6 November 2023) was an Andorran architect and politician who served as the prime minister of Andorra from May 2011 to 16 May 2019, when he was elected on the ticket of the Democrats for Andorra.

Previously, Martí had served as a member of the General Council of Andorra between 1993 and 2003, and as mayor (cònsol major) of Escaldes-Engordany between 2003 and 2011.

As prime minister, Martí achieved that Andorra had a tax framework comparable to that of other European countries in order to culminate the process of economic opening and international transparency, as well as approving the law that allowed civil union between people of the same sex, reached an agreement to reactivate the Andorra-La Seu d'Urgell Airport, managed the financial scandal caused by the Banca Privada d'Andorra, promoted the first major negotiations for Andorra's association agreement with the European Union and signed the agreement introducing the euro in Andorra.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Antoni Martí Petit was born in Escaldes-Engordany on 30 July 1963.[5][6] He studied at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Toulouse (Toulouse National School of Architecture), part of the Université fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées.[6][7] He was an architect by profession.[6]

Martí was first elected to the General Council in 1993, the first parliamentary election to involve political parties, as a member of the Liberal Union, party of which he was a co-founder.[6] He was re-elected in the 1997 election and in the 2001 election, when the Liberal Union was renamed as the Liberal Party of Andorra (PLA).[5][6]

In 2003, Martí resigned from the General Council to stand in that year's local elections for the mayoralty of Escaldes-Engordany.[2] He resulted elected as mayor and served two consecutive terms as mayor, from 2003 to 2011.[8] Before the end of his first mandate, he left the PLA and founded his own platform called Unió pel Poble (Union for the People).[6] Of his legacy as mayor, the salvation of the spa resort Caldea, the protection of the Madriu Valley and the consolidation of the Clot d'Emprivat area stand out.[9]

Prime Minister of Andorra

First term: 2011–2015

Martí in an official visit to Spain, 4 July 2011

After days of negotiation and uncertainty, on 17 February 2011 Martí announced that he was standing as the candidate for the centrist coalition (Democrats for Andorra) on the national list for the 2011 early elections.[10][11] He resigned as mayor of Escaldes-Engordany on 22 February and was succeeded by Montserrat Capdevila on 5 March.[12][13]

On 3 April 2011, Democrats for Andorra (DA) won an overwhelming absolute majority, achieving the 55.15% of the vote and winning 21 seats in the General Council.[14]

The General Council session to inaugurate Martí as prime minister took place on 11 May 2011, and he announced that his main objectives for his mandate were economic recovery, the promotion of tourism and the country's rapprochement with the European Union while offering state agreements with the opposition on issues such as the Andorra-EU relationship, social security and local administration. Martí won 21 votes in favour and 6 abstentions for his appointment, and was sworn in the following day.[15][16]

Martí with Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, January 2015

The first five measures that the Martí government approved were: the flexibilisation of business hours, the revision of the land law, the revision of the law on income tax for non-resident taxpayers, the reduction of contributions for the self-employed and the urgent processing of several commitments that Andorra must take for the evaluation of the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism.[17]

During the negotiations with the European Union, Andorra changed its foreign investment law, opening the country up to foreign investors, and also signed an agreement with France, Portugal and Spain to avoid double taxation.[18][19]

Martí also oversaw the introduction of the euro as the official currency of Andorra, following an agreement which was completed in June 2011.[4] Andorra was permitted to issue their own euros from July 2013, but due to various delays, Andorran euros did not enter circulation until January 2015.[20] In late May 2013, Martí met with François Hollande, the president of France and a co-prince of Andorra, to inform him of his intentions to bring in a law to introduce personal income tax in Andorra. Hollande encouraged Martí to continue with economic reforms that may lead to growth.[21] In June 2013, Martí bowed to pressure from the European Union and did introduce a personal income tax for Andorrans despite opposing it during the 2011 election campaign.[8]

Second term: 2015–2019

Martí with Brazilian president Michel Temer, 15 November 2018

Democrats for Andorra, again led by Antoni Martí, again won an absolute majority in the 2015 election, although it lost five seats.[22] He was re-elected prime minister on 30 March 2015 and was sworn in the following day.[23][24][25] He succeeded Gilbert Saboya Sunyé, who took over as interim prime minister on 23 March after Martí delegated the functions to him by decree on 18 March.[26][27]

A few days after the election, on 10 March 2015 the US Treasury Department issued a report stating that the bank Banca Privada d'Andorra (BPA) was a "primary money laundering concern", involving four US correspondent banks, criminal groups in Russia and China, and Venezuelan money launderers.[28] The board of directors and three of the bank's managers were suspended as of 11 March 2015 by the Institut Nacional Andorrà de Finances under orders of the Andorran government.[29] Martí, while being acting prime minister, reported that the US authorities had informed him days before and that it was a case of "bad practices and not a situation of solvency risk or balance sheet problems", calling on the citizens to remain calm, as the government had appointed two auditors to "guarantee the continuity of the institution's normal operations, protect its customers and ensure the good name and integration of the Andorran financial centre".[30] On 16 March, the government, by means of a temporary decree, limited the withdrawal movements of funds, causing a corralito for bPA customers.[31] In June 2016, Martí praised Michel Camdessus's 2005 report about Andorra, that "turned out to be prophetic." In turn, Camdessus expressed his respect for "the government of Andorra for the fact that the Principality embarked on the path of reforms, turning from protectionism and stagnation in the direction of openness and competitiveness."[18]

On 2 February 2016, Martí and the mixed parliamentary group and the parliamentary group of Democrats for Andorra signed the State Pact for the negotiations of an Association Agreement between Andorra and the European Union.[32]

In October 2016, while an official visit to San Marino, Antoni Martí defended a common strategy between Andorra, Monaco and San Marino for the association agreement with the European Union.[33]

Following the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils on 17 August 2017, Martí offered a grand bargain to the opposition to provide the Police Corps with more troops and create a specific counter-terrorism unit.[34] The opposition rejected the proposal for such a specific unit[35] and in September of that year it was made public that a police unit with anti-terrorist activity already existed for at least a year and a half to monitor a young man in the country who was in the process of radicalisation and had travelled to Syria.[36]

When the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya Carles Puigdemont declared Catalonia's independence from Spain, only to suspend it shortly afterwards, on 10 October 2017, Martí acknowledged that, although he stated that he had never proposed himself as mediator to the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, he did have telephone contacts with both parties to discuss the constitutional crisis.[37]

In view of the elections in 2019, Martí named Xavier Espot as his successor to the leadership of Democrats for Andorra and candidate for prime minister.[38] Following DA's victory in those elections, on 16 May 2019 Antoni Martí was succeeded as prime minister by Espot.[39]

Post-premiership

After his mandate, he left the political front line and returned to his work as an architect.[9]

On 4 October 2023, the extraordinary meeting of the Pact of State for the negotiations of an Association Agreement between Andorra and the European Union agreed to appoint Martí, together with Jaume Bartumeu, as an observer member of the negotiations as one of the first leaders to promote the country's rapprochement with the European Union.[40]

Personal life and death

Martí was married to a Dominican Republic national with whom he had three children.[6]

After suffering a cardiac arrest in his home, Martí died at Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital on 6 November 2023, at the age of 60.[41] The Andorran government decreed two days of national mourning.[42] The state funeral is scheduled for 8 November in the parish church of Saint Peter Martyr in Escaldes-Engordany.[43]

Honors

References

  1. ^ "Mor l'excap de govern d'Andorra Toni Martí als 60 anys". Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 6 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Muere el exjefe de Gobierno de Andorra Toni Martí a los 60 años". Infobae (in Spanish). 6 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Dos exjefes de Gobierno de Andorra, designados observadores de la negociación con la UE". Europa Press (in Spanish). 4 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Monetary Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra". Official Journal of the European Union. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Antoni Martí Petit". General Council of Andorra (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Mor Toni Martí d'un atac de cor fulminant". Altaveu.com (in Catalan). 6 November 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  7. ^ Antoni Martí Petit (in Catalan)
  8. ^ a b "Andorra profile - Leaders". BBC News. 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b "L'arquitecte de l'actual panorama polític". Radio and Television of Andorra. 7 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Martí plegarà de cònsol per encapçalar la candidatura centrista". Diari d'Andorra. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  11. ^ Andreu, Iago (18 February 2011). "Toni Martí fa un pas endavant i accepta liderar el 'gran centre'". El Periòdic d'Andorra.
  12. ^ "23 de febrer del 2011". City Council of Escaldes-Engordany. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Tres dones lideren per primer cop el comú d'Escaldes". Diari d'Andorra. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Majoria absoluta de Demòcrates per Andorra i enfonsament del Partit Socialdemòcrata". El Periòdic d'Andorra. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Toni Martí, investit nou cap de govern d'Andorra". Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  16. ^ Decret de l’11-5-2011 pel qual es nomena el M.I. Sr. Antoni Martí Petit com a cap de Govern. (in Catalan)
  17. ^ G., P. (19 May 2011). "Les primeres mesures anticrisis de Martí comporten canvis legislatius". El Periòdic d'Andorra.
  18. ^ a b "The Prime Minister of Andorra Antoni Marti participated in the conference "Global economy prospects", which took place in a Spanish city of La Seu D' Urgell". All About Andorra. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  19. ^ “Andorra ha dejado de ser un paraíso fiscal” (in Spanish)
  20. ^ "Andorran Euro Coins". Fleur-de-Coin. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Entretien avec M. Antoni MARTI et M. Gilbert SABOYA SUNYE". Elysee. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  22. ^ Martí guanya les eleccions generals a Andorra i revalida la majoria absoluta (in Catalan)
  23. ^ Martí és reelegit com a cap de Govern (in Catalan)
  24. ^ Martí jura el càrrec i forma Govern (in Catalan)
  25. ^ Decret del 31 de març del 2015 pel qual es nomena el M. I. Sr. Antoni Martí Petit com a cap de Govern (in Catalan)
  26. ^ El reelegit síndic general, Vicenç Mateu, demana que es treballi "en benefici de l'interès general" per superar el cas BPA Gilbert Saboya assumeix les funcions provisionals de cap de Govern mentre no s'esculli, els propers dies, el nou executiu (in Catalan)
  27. ^ Decret del 18-3-2015 de delegació de facultats del càrrec de cap de Govern i de cessament dels ministres elegits a les eleccions generals. (in Catalan)
  28. ^ FinCEN Names Banca Privada d’Andorra a Foreign Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering Concern
  29. ^ Press release of INAF on former website of the Bank, accessed 1 April 2015.
  30. ^ El govern andorrà intervé la Banca Privada d'Andorra arran d'una denúncia dels Estats Units (in Catalan)
  31. ^ De la mafia rusa al 'corralito': así se ha cocido la crisis de Banca Privada de Andorra (in Spanish)
  32. ^ Signat un Pacte d'Estat sobre l'Acord d'Associació d'Andorra amb la Unió Europea (in Catalan)
  33. ^ a b Antoni Martí defensa l'estratègia comuna per a l'acord d'associació des de San Marino (in Catalan)
  34. ^ Martí proposa la creació d’una unitat policial per lluitar contra el terrorisme (in Catalan)
  35. ^ L’oposició considera “oportunista” i “innecessari” el nou pacte d’Estat (in Catalan)
  36. ^ El grup antiterrorista que Toni Martí diu ara que pretén crear fa ben bé un any i mig que opera (in Catalan)
  37. ^ El Govern avança el consell de ministres d'aquest dimecres per tractar la situació de Catalunya (in Catalan)
  38. ^ Marxa Toni Martí, el polític invicte (in Catalan)
  39. ^ Xavier Espot jura com a cap de Govern (in Catalan)
  40. ^ "El Pacte d'Estat per a l'Acord d'associació nomena Jaume Bartumeu i Antoni Martí observadors de la negociació". Government of Andorra. 4 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  41. ^ "Mor Toni Martí". Diari d'Andorra (in Catalan). 6 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  42. ^ "El Govern decreta dos dies de dol nacional per la mort d'Antoni Martí, excap de Govern d'Andorra". Government of Andorra (in Catalan). 6 November 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  43. ^ "El funeral d'Estat per l'excap de Govern Antoni Martí se celebrarà dimecres". Diari Ara. 7 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Andorra
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Andorra
2015–2019 		Succeeded by
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