Judicial system and Basque language in Spain: a persistent glottophobia

Abstract

Recent court rulings in Spain, most of them unfavourable to the requirement and use of the Basque language in the public administration, have highlighted the persistent Basquephobia of the autonomous and state judicial system. Indeed, judges and magistrates have inherited a professional culture from the Franco era that is rather intolerant of minority languages; their appointment is not exempt from political considerations, and their knowledge of the Basque language is extremely limited. However, the Spanish Constitution, the Statutes of Autonomy, and the laws relating to the Basque language not only confer co-official status to this language in all or part of the territory, but also confer a series of linguistic rights to Basque speakers, particularly regarding their relationships with the public administration. However, this has not prevented the proliferation of court rulings infringing these rights.