Spanish President's Conference: A Language Controversy Erupts

Catalan President Defends Use of Co-official Languages at Spain's Conference of Presidents Spain's Conference of Presidents, a meeting of regional leaders, was marked by a language controversy this week. Catalan President Salvador Illa used the occasion to defend the use of co-official languages, stating, "Las lenguas oficiales son una riqueza. Son patrimonio de todos." His comments followed an incident where Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso left the conference when another speaker addressed the gathering in Basque. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions regarding language policy in Spain. While Ayuso's departure drew criticism, Galician President Alfonso Rueda partially delivered his speech in Galician, demonstrating a different approach to the issue. Illa's statement underscores the importance of linguistic diversity in reflecting Spain's multifaceted identity. The incident sparked a debate about inclusivity and the role of regional languages in national politics.