Avoided the naming trap Official languages to be allowed at the congressPSOE and Sumar continue negotiations to amend the chamber’s bylaws deputies’ ability to express themselves in the language of their region’s autonomy statute As soon as possible and with fewer restrictions than in the Senate, where minorities are confirmed but limited to certain moments.
The overarching aim is to enable the use of Valencian and other official languages throughout all Congress resolutions, not just in motions as seen in the Senate. This reform would broaden participation, ensure more inclusive debate, and align parliamentary practice with the linguistic diversity recognized by regional statutes. Discussions suggest that the measure could be ready for deliberation in the near term, and there is a real possibility that it may already move into a concrete stage for one of the forthcoming investment talks on the agenda. The political calendar points to the election of a socialist candidate, Pedro Sánchez, on September 26 and 27, with the potential alternative of the PP candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who, based on current budgeting and party math, faces significant hurdles. The next two months could prove decisive for both reform and electoral strategy.
Parliamentary insiders confirm that the PSOE and Sumar are prioritizing language provisions during investment-related plenaries. If successful, the initiative would gain considerable visibility because these sessions attract intense media attention in Congress. The practical challenge, beyond the pace of negotiations, lies in logistical readiness: ensuring that representatives may freely use any official language in official proceedings while maintaining smooth operation of parliamentary procedures. The current draft stipulates that members may express themselves in official languages in writing, orally, or in plenary, committee, or standing council sessions, establishing a non‑temporary, enduring framework. This could include Valencian and other official languages, with simultaneous translation services envisioned to render interventions into Spanish during plenary, committee, or standing council meetings. The arrangement would support a multilingual discourse that mirrors Spain’s regional linguistic reality, as reported by El País.
Regarding documentation, the negotiated text specifies that documents produced in minority languages will be translated into Spanish by dedicated translation teams, ensuring accessibility for all members and staff and preserving the integrity of the original statements for official records. This approach emphasizes not only linguistic rights but also the administrative discipline necessary to sustain a multilingual parliamentary environment. The reform package thus seeks to harmonize inclusive language rights with the practical needs of legislative workflow, aiming to set a durable precedent for how regional languages are treated in national deliberations and how such practices are reflected in formal parliamentary outputs.