AVL’s founders warn of a risk of reigniting the Valencia dispute
The president announced on Monday the academic and scientific authority of the Valencian Language Academy, a move that, for the first time, drew a line between him and his government partner as well as Education Minister José Antonio Rovira. Rovira, aligned with the PP, had supported Vox’s stance. The head of AVL then invited Verònica Cantó to a two‑week meeting to seek greater clarity on the various linguistic currents at play.
Ahead of upcoming talks with AVL, Mazón issued a clear message to Vox: align with the official stance of the Generalitat, which communicates its position in line with the academy’s standards. The second vice-president Susana Camarero echoed the sentiment on Tuesday, stating that the dispute had been resolved in principle.
Vox resists, yet avoids outright disobedience
Vox shows no willingness to concede quickly. The party frames Valencian and Catalan as distinct languages, insisting that the true Valencian is closer to the Puig standard, a point emphasized by Massó. Vox argues that Valencia’s political forces should not abandon the unity they claim to represent, while preparing to navigate the balance between regional autonomy and party line.
Consell presses Sánchez for equal official status for the Valencian player
The far‑right triangulates its approach to avoid violating Mazón’s order while keeping loyalists satisfied. They refused to acknowledge AVL’s authority and continued to push communications in Spanish, thereby sidestepping Valencian in official outlets. The stance reflects a broader pattern of noncompliance with the Valencian language usage law, which requires autonomous administration publications to appear in Valencian as a minimum standard.
The latest report notes that the three ministries under Vox in the Consell did not publish Valencian posts, a marked departure from the language policy. The18th article of the Valencian language usage law states that all official publications should be written or published in Valencian, regardless of the audience or support expressed. This development is visible in the social media activity of the three Vox departments, where posts in Valencian have been scarce or absent in recent days.
In a recent social media exchange, Vicente Barrera, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Culture, posted only in Spanish after Mazón’s statements, mentioning a reception in Palau following a national gymnastics event rather than a direct language policy update.
The reception celebrating the Spanish Rhythmic Gymnastics team, held in Valencia and qualifying for Paris 2024, was captured in a post by a regional culture and sport account. The event was framed as a moment of regional pride rather than a matter of language policy, illustrating how official communications can diverge from language usage expectations.
— A message from the Deputy Head of Culture and Sport’s office to the broader public was circulated as part of this coverage.
The Agriculture department, which had sparked controversy by criticizing the Valencia regulation in late August, subsequently reduced public language activity to a minimum. A later post conveyed condolences for a prominent regional business founder and shared information about a meeting with fishermen’s associations, with several messages delivered only in Spanish.
The regional Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries account later emphasized ongoing efforts to unify the fishing guild and align with regional positions. This stance underscores the broader tension between language policy and political messaging at the regional level.
In another development, the Justice Ministry faced scrutiny for how Valencian language communications were handled. Recent tweets from the ministry relied on retweets from a centralized Emergency account, with officials indicating there is no press officer to manage language-specific outreach. The department continues to tweet in a way that aligns with its existing leadership and messaging constraints.
— The Justice and Home Affairs office also shared a post from the regional forest service, highlighting a face-to-face visit to local facilities and discussions about service needs. This visit illustrates how language choices intersect with public‑facing communications across departments.
Overall, the situation reflects a broader clash over linguistic authority, political alignment, and the interpretation of regional autonomy. While some bodies strive to adhere to the language policy, others resist, shaping a patchwork of communications that often leaves Valencian language usage in flux across official channels.