A Controversial Agreement
In June 2023, the Popular Party (PP) and VOX formalized an agreement that allowed the investiture of Marga Prohens as president of the Balearic Government. This alliance facilitated the inclusion of VOX in the Island Councils of Mallorca and Menorca, and marked a significant step towards the marginalization of the Catalan language in various areas of island life.
Catalan in Education: A Territory of Conflict
Historically, the education sector has been a scene of confrontation in relation to Catalan. In 2021, the Superior Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands admitted an appeal by the association PLIS Educación, which requested a change in the language immersion model to include 25% of classes in Spanish. The following year, VOX continued the legal battle with an appeal to the Constitutional Court, pointing out the use of Catalan as a vehicular language as potentially unconstitutional.
The Pilot Plan for Free Language Choice
In the context of the approval of the 2024 regional budgets, the Ministry of Education implemented the Free Language Choice Pilot Plan. This plan, which was perceived as an attempt to reduce the presence of Catalan, provoked a strong reaction among the educational community, which considered it segregationist. The mobilizations of teachers and cultural organizations intensified in response to the concerns generated.
Disinformation and the Health Sector
The health sector has not been exempt from tensions related to the Catalan language. In September 2024, various media reported on the loss of a position by an oncologist due to her lack of knowledge in Catalan. However, the Ministry of Health clarified that the doctor had not met the requirements for the position and that her situation was more complex than the news suggested.
The Urgent Measures Decree
To face the criticism about the lack of professionals in the health system, the Government approved the Decree of Urgent Measures, which eliminated the requirement of Catalan to work in public centers. This change, despite being a step to alleviate the situation, was recognized by the Vice President of the Government as an insufficient solution to the housing crisis affecting professionals in the sector.
Resilience of Catalan and the Need for Mobilization
With current policies, the future of Catalan in the Balearic Islands is uncertain. Ivan Solivellas, sociolinguist, and Tomeu Ramis, anesthesiologist, agree on the need for an active defense of the language, warning that without a firm commitment to protect Catalan, we run the risk of facing future attacks. The lack of organization in the health sector and the tensions in the education system are indicative of a complex landscape that requires a collective response.
