Barcelona Conference ‘Pinganillos’: Cost Revealed
- The use of co-official languages at the Presidents Conference in Barcelona sparked controversy Thursday, leading Madrid's regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to walk out.
- The debate over languages isn't new. A prior decision to translate co-official languages in congress cost more than 17 million euros.
- Opposition leaders, including Juanma Moreno of Andalusia and officials from Castilla y León, have criticized the use of translation devices.
Madrid’s Isabel Díaz Ayuso walked out of the Barcelona Presidents Conference due to the use of Basque, igniting a fresh debate over Spain’s linguistic diversity. The primarykeyword, translation devices known as ‘pinganillos,’ cost €11,616, sparking criticism from opposition leaders. This latest incident follows the controversy surrounding the €17 million cost to translate co-official languages in Congress. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defends the use of secondarykeyword, translation, as inclusive, while others, like Ayuso, see it differently.The Spanish constitution acknowledges co-official languages, but their mandatory use in the Conference of Presidents is absent from the regulations. News Directory 3 keeps you up-to-date on the matter. What long-term effects will this have on regional identity? Discover what’s next in this unfolding story.
Ayuso Exits Presidents Conference Amid Language Spat
Updated June 6, 2025
The use of co-official languages at the Presidents Conference in Barcelona sparked controversy Thursday, leading Madrid’s regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to walk out. Ayuso’s departure occurred when Lehendakari Imanol Pradales began speaking in Basque, fulfilling a prior threat to leave if Spanish wasn’t used.
The debate over languages isn’t new. A prior decision to translate co-official languages in congress cost more than 17 million euros. The ‘pinganillos,’ or translation devices, for the Presidents Conference cost €11,616, according to Europa Press, and were intended to allow regional leaders to speak in their recognized languages.
Opposition leaders, including Juanma Moreno of Andalusia and officials from Castilla y León, have criticized the use of translation devices. Miguel Tellado, a PP spokesman, called the devices “nationalist paraphernalia.”
In contrast, Gabriel Rufián noted Ayuso’s refusal to use the translation device during a speech by Salvador Illa. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the use of ‘pinganillos’ as a sign of inclusivity.
While Article 3 of the Spanish Constitution recognizes co-official languages within their respective autonomous communities, their use isn’t mandated in the Conference of Presidents’ regulations.
“Understanding this is to understand Spain,” Salvador Illa,president of the Generalitat,said,urging attendees to apply ‘common sense’ to the debate and calling the devices “a step forward.”
What’s next
The controversy surrounding the use of co-official languages and translation devices is highly likely to continue, reflecting broader tensions over regional identity and linguistic diversity within Spain.