The crisis between the Balearic Government and Vox, which is in "the opposition" due to the language controversy, is stuck

PALMA, 24 Oct. (OTR/PRESS) -

The differences between the Balearic Government and Vox over the free choice of languages ​​in schools have run aground this Wednesday when those of Santiago Abascal placed themselves "in the opposition" alleging that the attitude of the 'popular' ones prevents them from being partners. Now, Vox not only discusses the scheduling, but also puts on the table how to implement the free choice of language and insists on making this issue subject to support for the regional budgets.

These two issues have gone hand in hand since on Tuesday, October 17, the Government failed to approve the spending ceiling for 2024, when the eight Vox deputies voted against it.

The refusal was preceded by a non-legal proposal from Santiago Abascal on the free choice of language in education, an issue included in the Prohens investiture agreement. In recent days, Vox has made it clear that they make their support for the spending ceiling subject to having "the certainty" that the budgets will be "appropriate" to comply with the free choice of language.

A week after that clash, the Caryatids Room of the Parliament has been the scene where the political tension in the Balearic Islands has become evident, while the differences between PP and Vox continue without a clear resolution. In the Government control session, questions that did not deal with the situation between the two parties have been an exception on the agenda, and both PSIB and MÉS, as well as Vox, have taken advantage of their interventions to agitate this matter.

The investiture agreements included the free choice of language without a specific calendar, but Vox defends that complying with the pact involves "continuously negotiating throughout the legislature."

Last week, the PP presented amendments to the Vox proposal - a non-legislative initiative, without immediate legal effects - on the free choice of language, introducing different nuances, but it did so after the deadline and the PSIB vetoed that they could be held. consider. Then, the PP abstained from Vox's proposal and then they voted against the spending ceiling, warning the PP that it is "important to keep your word."

"Your attitude prevents us from being partners and leaves us in the opposition," was the warning issued this Tuesday by the Vox deputy Manuela Cañadas to the Minister of Education, Antoni Vera, who questions whether he has "any intention of establishing free choice of language".

At his side, deputy Agustín Buades has also referred to this controversy in a question not directly related to the topic - about the activity of IbDona -, a gesture that the Minister of Social Affairs, Catalina Cirer, did not like at all. . "Minister, now that no one is listening to us: your social policies can be carried out if there are general budgets; there will be budgets if there is a ceiling; and there will be a ceiling if Mr. Vera guarantees us the calendar of when and how it will be carried out." free choice of language in all educational stages in this legislature". Cirer considered that these words constituted "a clear and forceful threat."

In addition, Vox no longer discusses only the scheduling, but also puts on the table the way to execute the free choice of language. The spokesperson, Idoia Ribas, argued in her question to Prohens that "there are more than enough classrooms and teachers for two lines, one in Catalan and the other in Spanish, now the only thing missing is political will."

For his part, the councilor has confirmed that he will develop an action plan to implement the free choice of language in the next preschool year and extend it to the rest of the stages within the legislature, which was the original approach of the PP.

It should be noted that the document for the investiture signed by the two forces also committed Vox not to present any amendment to the entire budgets, although the practical consequences of knocking down the spending ceiling are, in essence, the same, because they prevent approve the new accounts and lead to an extension.

Meanwhile, the spokespersons for PSIB, MÉS for Mallorca and MÉS for Menorca have offered Prohens the votes of the left to advance the spending ceiling on the condition that Vox's proposal of "linguistic segregation" be stopped.

The socialist spokesman, Iago Negueruela, suggested to Prohens that "next week he could approve the spending ceiling" if he agrees with the PSIB. The deputy has indicated that this Monday he called the Minister of Finance, Toni Costa, by phone, and for the "first time" he did not answer.

From MÉS per Mallorca, the spokesperson, Lluís Apesteguia, has reproached the Government for not trying to negotiate with other groups to ensure the spending ceiling, reminding again this Tuesday that he could count on the four MÉS deputies in exchange for "stopping marketing with the tongue". For Prohens, this offer is "for the gallery."

The MÉS per Menorca deputy Josep Castells, of the Mixed Group, has also offered his two votes, asking Prohens "how long" will he be able to "brag" about "not having given in to Vox's blackmail and having remained strong", "because the ceiling of spending will have to be approved".

In the session, Prohens was "aware" that he governs as a minority and assured that he was not "afraid" of dialogue. In the May elections the PP obtained 25 seats, joined by the deputy of Sa Unió - a coalition made up of the PP and Compromís per Formentera -. Compared to the 24 that the left had together, for his investiture it was necessary to negotiate with Vox to achieve, at least, one abstention.

In June Vox and PP reached a 110-point programmatic agreement that would allow Prohens to form a government without Vox in the Consolat de Mar. In fact, among the pacts between both formations throughout the country, that of the Balearic Islands has been the only one solo government with external support from Vox.

One of the first measures adopted by the Government in compliance with this roadmap was to once again consider Catalan as a merit, instead of a requirement, in public health.

However, Vox calls for extending this measure to the entire public service in general, while the Government, without ruling it out, reduced its urgency: according to the vice president, Antoni Costa, the measure has no "short-term relevance." At a Europa Press breakfast briefing in Madrid, President Prohens pointed out that it is necessary to "analyze case by case" and take into account which positions have direct attention to the public.

In any case, this Tuesday the PP voted against maintaining the Catalan requirement in the public service, in a tiebreaker for a bill that has been brought to the plenary session.

The appointment of the new director of IB3 also brought the issue of language into the political debate. The PP proposed journalist Albert Salas and in the first vote, which did not go ahead, Vox supported his candidacy. However, the differences between PP and Vox regarding the linguistic model in the public radio and television entity are known.

Last Tuesday, Vox urged the Government to change the regulations to introduce its own production in Spanish: "Whoever wants IB3, let them pay for it, like I pay for Netflix," declared Manuela Cañadas. The Minister of the Presidency, Antònia Estarellas, reminded him that programming must contribute to the normalization of Catalan.

Within a minimum period of one month, a second round vote must be called where, if the results of the first round are repeated, it would be sufficient to consider the appointment approved. The left has offered to support Salas' appointment on the condition that the linguistic model of IB3 does not change.