Madrid doesn't help
We'll have to do it ourselves!

December 6, 2024¹

The referendum on the free choice of the language of instruction in Valencia, which was announced for 26 November to 4 December, did not take place. As soon as it was announced, it was boycotted by the AMPA (parents' association) and the UGT (General Union of Workers). Rubén Pacheco presented the main argument: The draft does not ensure that children will be able to study Valenciano.

Another reason given by the UGT for rejecting the referendum is that „it is a strategy of Carlos Mazón's government to attack public education, dismantle Valenciano as a vernacular language and promote its marginalisation“

What is behind these attacks on the freedom of parents to decide on the education of their children?

Half the truth is a complete lie

This issue is somewhat convoluted. The claim that the draft referendum does not ensure that children will be able to learn in Valenciano is only half the truth. Nor does it ensure that children will be able to learn in Spanish.

Let's take another brief look at history². When the Socialists, together with Compromís (Greens), came to power in the Valencian government, they passed an education law that they called the Law of Multilingualism to deceive the people. In practice, however, it meant that Spanish was reduced to 25% in favour of Valenciano, which was to be massively promoted. When the conservative PP and VOX took over the government in 2023, they forgot their promises to ensure that parents could freely choose the language of instruction. Nevertheless, they passed a law that 25% each for Spanish and Valenciano are a minimum requirement. This is a relief for the Spanish-speaking majority in the Comunidad Valenciana, but not a solution.

However, there are many municipalities in the Comunidad Valenciana, e.g. Alicante, where you have to look for Valenciano speakers with a magnifying glass. Even in the city of Valencia itself, Spanish is usually spoken and not Valenciano. The referendums, which are now being opposed by the socialist-influenced UGT and AMPA, were invented in order to somewhat cushion the discontent about this „improvement“.

Politicians decide, not the voters

It's the old game. Once in power, those elected decide what is right for the people. Of course, the referendum would not have changed the law. As a result, the parents could only have decided whether they wanted more Valenciano or more Spanish for their children in class. They are treating the people like a mother treats her small children, asking them whether they would rather go to bed with or without shoes and socks. Democracy is when the people are only allowed to decide on presets, framed decisions. The politicians have already decided: Valenciano is a must! The only thing left for the people to decide is how much. In this case, the socialists are even more radical, they want more Valenciano, Valenciano above all else.

No solution from Madrid either

The language imposition is still much greater in Catalonia. That is why last Sunday elcatalan.es published an article by Ángel Escolano - President of the Convivencia Cívica Catalana -, Antonio Jimeno - President of the AMES trade union - and Sergio Fidalgo - Director of elCatalán.es. The title is: Nobody will come from Madrid to solve the persecution of the Spanish language, we have to do it ourselves

Fidalgo asserted that „Salvador Illa (President of Catalonia, socialist) supports the educational policy of the (separatist) Esquerra Republicana (ERC) and maintains linguistic discrimination against Spanish not only in the classroom but also outside it, following the dictates of the most fanatical part of the independence movement.“

Jimeno recalls how it has been said that Catalan is the correct and lingua franca „that we must defend and promote“ and concludes that Spanish is being reduced to a „language of learning“.

For my part, I would like to remind you that in Catalonia, as in Valencia, the majority of the population speaks Spanish and not Catalan or Valenciano as their mother tongue.

Escalano states that the socialist PSC „'is a nationalist party that follows the agenda of the independence movement' and said that 'the PSOE and the PSC will break the promises they made to the ERC in terms of funding'“

A lot of money has been offered to the separatist parties to keep Sánchez as president of Spain. The protests of other Spanish communities have so far been unable to change this policy.

Escalano added that „we are going to experience incredible things and no one will come from Madrid to solve our problems with the persecution of the Spanish, we will have to do it ourselves.“

The only thing to add is that this will only work if „we“ means the citizens, the voters. Voting is not enough, we must take to the streets again, where the organisation „Hablamos Español“ is continuing its actions today on St Nicholas' Day¹ . The main aim is to collect books for children and young people for the Valencian libraries affected by the floods.

Footnotes

¹ Sorry for the delay in publishing this article. A temporary slight illness forced me to do so.

² In the following I do not give any further source references, the story is sufficiently documented in the course of my web-site.

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