The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has wondered why «what is not done in cafes is done at the Conference of Presidents» when, although official languages are «Spain’s wealth», «there is a common language».
Upon his arrival at Plaza de España, where the PP has called for a demonstration against the government under the slogan ‘Mafia or democracy’, the mayor has answered questions from the press about the decision last Friday by the regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to leave the session when Catalan or Basque was spoken, attributing what happened to «Pedro Sánchez’s strategy».
«The official languages are a wealth in Spain, let everyone be clear about that. But one thing surprises me: if we understand each other at cafes or by tweeting, why can’t we understand each other when sitting down?» he wondered.
This reflection «is not a discredit to Catalan, Galician, or Basque». «If we understand each other on Twitter, if we all speak the same way over a coffee, why did they have to do it differently sitting at the table? It doesn’t make much sense,» he insisted.
Almeida is clear that «languages should never be used to confront but to understand within diversity and cultural richness». «And if there is a common language, in which we all understand each other, why do we do at the Conference of Presidents what we don’t do at cafes?» he concluded.
FUENTE