This weekend, a new chapter in the dispute over the island's language will unfold on the streets of Mallorca. More than 60 groups are calling for participation in the "Diada per la Llengua" to join forces in defense of the Catalan against the language policy measures of the conservative government of the Balearic Islands.
The current tension has its roots in the efforts of the right-wing party Vox, which is not directly represented in the government but whose support is crucial for the governing majority of the People's Party (PP). Vox is pushing for a reduction of Catalan in public administration and education. A major demonstration is planned for Sunday in Palma, and since Wednesday a torch has been symbolically carried from place to place as part of the "Correllengua".
The historical dimension of the conflict
The dispute over Catalan is deeply rooted and regularly flares up under both conservative and left-wing governments. While the left-wing government under Armengol pursued a more pragmatic approach, the current conservative government under Prime Minister Marga Prohens is seeking a middle way that does not ignore the influence of Vox, but also does not want to jeopardize the peaceful status quo.
📢 Perquè el nostre amor a la llengua i a Mallorca és infinitament més fort que el seu odi, és hora de sortir al carrer!
💪 #Síalallengua pic.twitter.com/3TRjWta5xk
- Obra Cultural Balear (@ocbcat) March 22, 2024
Three main areas of conflict determine the current debate:
1. The school systemThe plan is to overturn the established model, which stipulates Catalan as the predominant language of instruction. In future, parents will be able to choose the language of instruction for their children, which critics see as a threat to the presence of Catalan.
2. The public healthcare systemThe obligation to speak Catalan was abolished in order to attract qualified medical staff, which is also the subject of controversy.
3. The public administrationHere, too, information is to be offered in Catalan and Spanish on an equal footing in future, which is seen by linguists as a weakening of the regional language.
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