A new culture law aimed at safeguarding the asturian language and cultural identity has been successfully passed by progressive forces in the Asturian parliament. The initiative, which received 24 votes in favour, was supported by the Socialist group but faced rejection from the Popular Party (PP) and Vox.
Xabel Vegas, spokesperson for Convocatoria por Asturies IU, defended the proposed law during a parliamentary session, highlighting the current historical context where democratic values are under threat from regressive forces. He stated, “In the face of this threat, the best antidote we have is culture.”
Vegas pointed to instances where works and films have been removed from programming by PP and Vox-led governments in various locations, including Valdemorillo, Briviesca, and Santa Cruz de Bezana. He concluded, “We certainly need a culture law, and we also need an LGTBI law.”
The new law establishes the Council of Culture of Asturias, along with a Library System, a Museums and Archives System, and a network of cultural institutions ranging from theatres and auditoriums to music schools and traditional cultural centres, as well as the Linguistic Normalisation Network. Additionally, it creates the Asturian Agency for Cultural Industries, a demand from sector workers that contributes approximately 2% to the region's GDP and generates around 25,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He recalled that on June 12, 2025, a majority in the chamber voted for the first time in Asturias' democratic history in favour of official recognition of the asturian language, which was blocked by the right-wing parties. Consequently, progressive forces pledged to elevate the language “to the maximum allowed by the legal framework, without renouncing the aspiration for official status.” He directly challenged deputies Costillas and Queipo, urging them to “act with deeds, not just words.”
The law also establishes the Academy of the Asturian Language as the linguistic authority for the normalisation of asturian, with its Navia-Eo Linguistic Secretariat recognised as the authority for eonaviego. Furthermore, it aims to dignify asturian identity markers while acknowledging the labour movement.
Vegas asserted that the vast majority of asturians take pride in their language, stating, “Only a small extremist minority lives in ignorance and provincial self-hatred.” He concluded his remarks by calling for a vote in favour of “a great Asturias, where we all belong, and not the small Asturias proposed by a few.”
The plenary session was attended by the president and vice-president of the Academy of the Asturian Language, Xosé Antón González Riaño and David Guardado Díez, who observed from the guest tribune.
