It does not seem that we are in full linguistic sokatira, but we are in it. In the peninsular Basque Country, here, every day, we work in the sokatira in favour of Spanish or Euskera. But there is a tremendous disproportion between the two groups, because those who throw in favor of Castilian have as a guarantee the Spanish State, its legislation and its judges, and the autonomous forces that defend it, both in Navarre and in the CAV. On the Castilian side, ten shooters; and on the other, in Navarre, a shooter; and on the CAV, two shooters. You don't have to be a guess or a quick wizard to guess who's going to the winners with a big difference.
In the technological park of Miramón de Donostia-San Sebastián, for example, you see a lot of young public. Except for one exception, nine out of ten are heard in Spanish. It will be the most Euskaldun technology park. In which language will they mainly work? In Spanish… and English? It is often heard: “Companies are there to win,” and the Basque language is not an interesting working language, with exceptions. You know, in private companies…
"As in Franco, the reaction must also, as a matter of urgency, be popular action. In vain we expect the impetus of public institutions"
The Basque Parliament rejected the proposal for a law to promote Euskera plans in companies with more than 50 workers. ELA, LAB and the Council agreed to the proposal, which was brought to Parliament by EH Bildu. If employers or workers express their will in the inter-branch agreements, the proposal takes account of the need to negotiate the Basque plans. Basque plans are often flexible, and the results are generally modest; however, contrary to the proposal, what has happened is to show where each of the sokatira data is located in languages.
Now, CCOO turned last week to the opposition to incorporate twelve municipal policemen in Irun, and this time to the Bilbao Replacement Municipal Police Job Exchange, for requesting B2 in Basque. As it is known, having the linguistic profile B2 does not guarantee being able to hold an interview in Basque. It is very common that B2 has come out long ago and is no longer able to do a normal interview in Basque. In fact, the only way to guarantee competition is to put in the opposition a test in which contestants, in addition to the written examination, should do a normal interview in Euskera, so that those who know Euskera but do not have the B2 do not have any problems, that is, to rule out the titulitis and function as in Madrid or Paris. It's also clear where the strings are put. We do not lack examples, otherwise it is the last (at the moment): Motion submitted by Ezker Anitza-IU, member of the Basque Government, Elkarrekin Podemos, to the municipal plenary of Irun, calling for “making the profile of Euskera more flexible in public positions”.
In the daily linguistic sokatira, the Government of Navarre, valuing German and English as merit and rejecting the Basque Parliament, rejecting the proposal of Euskera plans, and CCOO resorting to linguistic profiles, and accepting the resources of the judges, are forcefully throwing up the Basque Country. How are we going to resist in this disproportionate sokatira euskaldun? With these socio-linguistic and political conditions?
During the Franco dictatorship, the brutal oppression of civil and linguistic rights provoked an admirable reaction among those who felt Basque, but now, in this authoritarian and Tibian autonomous democracy in Spain, there are hardly any offensive reactions. The best meter to know who the patriot is is the one of language, but language is a social phenomenon, and if the appropriate socio-linguistic conditions in society are not given, Basque Basque individuals also have a party, as the thread continues to cut in the most subtle way in this technological and digital beginning of the 21st century, and no less, more than in previous times.
As in Franco, the reaction should also, as a matter of urgency, be the popular initiative. In vain we are waiting for the impetus of the public institutions, because in Navarra they are in the hands of the Spanish uniformizing forces in general and in the CAPV, of a coalition of Spanish uniformizers and temperate collectors. To win in this uneven counterclockwork, we need the unitary pull of most Euskaltzales. Also in that darkest time, we knew how to play together.
It needs it now, sooner than later.