The issue of coexistence between the two official languages ??of the Basque Country and the incursions of politics into the field of language could seem to be overcome based on some data. 67% of society is in favor of the promotion of Basque and only 7% are against, 88% believe that in the future of Euskadi both languages ??should coexist, while only 9.5% believe that it will continue alone. It must be in Basque, and, to cite another data collected in the Sociolinguistic Survey, up to 75% of young people know both languages ??and only 9% say they do not understand the Basque language. The reality, however, is more complicated and the campaign is demonstrating that not even an issue that apparently raises this consensus escapes the fray between parties.
The PP candidate, Javier de Andrés, is the one who most insistently brings these issues to light, along with Vox. He does so by appealing to the two fundamental issues that still generate friction in the political sphere: the requirement for linguistic profiles in the Administration and the debate on the future of the three linguistic models in Education (A, B and D).
Taking into account the first question, the level of disagreement between what some people say and what others say is so high that it can be difficult for an impartial observer to clarify. De Andrés denounces that “Basque is required in the Administration above what society can provide” and focuses his criticism on a very sensitive area: Health, suggesting that the lack of health professionals that affects Euskadi, and Europe has to do with the linguistic issue.
Imanol Pradales responded to this question in a radio interview with a familiar example: “I tend to go to pediatrics a lot at the Cruces hospital, because we have a little girl, and I usually get treated by magnificent professionals of Latin American origin who do not speak Basque. Let’s be serious.”
It is at this point where a reasonable doubt arises: is language really an insurmountable barrier in the public sphere and, in particular, in Health? The data says no, that thousands of health workers who do not master the Basque language work in the Basque Health Service-Osakidetza. Specifically, 51% of professionals have an accredited linguistic profile (in their case, in Health, a B2 is usually required), while the other half do not have this accreditation.
The percentage of workers with an accredited profile is somewhat higher in all Basque administrations (around 60%, an average that clearly rises in areas such as Education, where teachers usually accredit a C1). This issue of linguistic profiles has historically been channeled based on two criteria: they are required based on the sociolinguistic reality of the place in which the public service will be carried out and, secondly, if it is mandatory, a level is required. according to the functions that the public worker will perform.
In this section, however, there is also room for criticism. The platform Euskara Denontzat (Basque for all) has been denouncing that in recent years it is required above what is known as the mandatory index, that is, above the sociolinguistic reality of each place. Furthermore, in recent months several rulings have been issued that have annulled public employment calls for demanding knowledge of Basque outside, according to the judges, the aforementioned coordinates. This issue sparked a massive demonstration last fall in Bilbao to denounce “a judicial offensive against Basque.”
Behatokia, the linguistic rights observatory, meanwhile, denounces that the right to be served by the Administration in the official language chosen by the speaker, legally recognized for 40 years, is far from being fulfilled even in the most Basque-speaking areas. The Basque Government indicates that the degree of compliance with this right is high, although it recognizes limitations.
In a sociolinguistic reality very different from that of Cruces, the hospital mentioned by Pradales, the doctor from Amoroto, a native of Madrid, seems to endorse this point, although, in an interview in the newspaper Deia, he also highlighted how coexistence opens passed. And there, both the patience of the Basque-speaking community and the willingness to make an effort on the part of those who approach Basque as adults play an important role:
“I’m trying to learn. Some patient has made me lists of words in Basque. It has been a precious gift (…). Keep in mind that there are many people who find it difficult to express themselves in Spanish, here only Basque is heard. That is why I am very grateful for how they have accepted me (…). In life I would find a better job than being a family doctor in Amoroto.”
