Andorra Politician Calls for Harsher Fines to Boost Catalan Language Use
Concordia leader Cerni Escalé demands stricter enforcement of Andorra's language law amid declining everyday use of Catalan, as government reports.
Key Points
- Escalé calls for stricter fines to reverse erosion of everyday Catalan use, calling it Andorra's patriotic identity.
- 78 of 100 language violation complaints under review; only 2 fines issued (€1,200 each to hotel and restaurant).
- Challenges in tourism/retail sectors; citizens often denied Catalan services.
- Government promotes Catalan via courses, exchanges, €30,000 cinema subsidies; cinemas show only 20% new releases in Catalan.
Cerni Escalé, leader of the Concordia parliamentary group, called on Thursday for stricter enforcement of Andorra's language law, including heavier fines, to halt the decline in everyday Catalan use.
Speaking during the government oversight session at the General Council, Escalé argued that social use of Catalan is eroding and urged full compliance with the legislation's requirements. He described the language as "the most patriotic expression we have and what gives us our sense of identity as a people."
The exchange followed a question from Concordia councillor Maria Àngels Aché, who highlighted gaps between the country's robust language protections and real-world practice. She noted instances where citizens cannot receive services in Catalan at certain businesses, particularly in tourism and retail sectors. Aché stressed that safeguarding Catalan must include integration initiatives amid population growth.
Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Mònica Bonell responded that the government is enforcing the law decisively. She disclosed around 100 complaints about language violations, with 78 still under review. Only two have resulted in fines of €1,200 each—one against a hotel and one against a restaurant. Bonell explained that proceedings prioritize legal certainty, and many cases falter because complainants decline to identify themselves. Commerce inspectors continue monitoring compliance.
Bonell also outlined promotion efforts, such as language courses, language exchange pairs, and information for newcomers on their linguistic duties.
The discussion touched on cinemas, where Aché pointed out that only two of every 10 new releases are shown in Catalan. Bonell clarified that programming is managed by distributors and the country's sole cinema operator, not her ministry, though the government allocates €30,000 yearly to subsidize Catalan screenings.
Carine Montaner, head of the Andorra Endavant group, noted that multilingual offerings often reflect audience demand.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: