Catalan Government defends President Illa's use of Spanish in international forums

Minister Francesc Xavier Vila argues that the President must adapt his language to global audiences and contexts.

Generic image of a microphone on a podium during an international conference.
IA

Generic image of a microphone on a podium during an international conference.

The Minister for Language Policy, Francesc Xavier Vila, has justified President Salvador Illa's decision to speak in Spanish during an international forum in Barcelona on October 20.

The speech took place at the World in Progress forum, organized by Prisa Group. Vila explained that while Catalan is the default language for local communications, international events require flexibility to reach global audiences, including Latin America and North America.

"This event is only tangentially addressed to Catalan society."

Francesc Xavier Vila · Minister for Language Policy
The Minister noted that former presidents such as Jordi Pujol, Artur Mas, and Carles Puigdemont also used different languages for international projection, comparing it to Emmanuel Macron using English in specific global contexts.