Andorran MP Urges Tougher Fines for Catalan Language Law Breaches
Cerni Escalé calls for significant fines to enforce Andorra's Catalan Language Law, while Culture Minister Mònica Bonell defends the current.
Key Points
- Escalé demands 'one or two significant fines' to spark retailer compliance and protect Catalan identity.
- Bonell states system works: penalties only after warnings; 100 complaints, 11 resolved favorably, 9 dismissed, 2 fined.
- Debate in Consell General highlights tension between language protection and business needs.
- Catalan is Andorra's official language.
Cerni Escalé has urged the Andorran government to adopt a tougher stance on sanctions under the Catalan Language Law, questioning whether officials intend to fully enforce its provisions.
Speaking in the Consell General, Escalé called for the imposition of "one or two significant fines" to prompt discussions among retailers and business owners. He argued this would compel the government to actively safeguard the Catalan language and national identity.
Culture Minister Mònica Bonell countered that the current system is operating effectively. She explained that penalties follow a prior warning, allowing businesses time to address violations. Bonell noted that authorities have received 100 complaints about non-compliance to date. Of these, 11 were resolved in the complainants' favour, nine were dismissed, and two resulted in penalties against the businesses. "The language is being protected," she emphasised.
The exchange highlights ongoing debates over balancing language protection with business compliance in Andorra, where Catalan holds official status.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: