b>New Catalan‑Name Mandate for Balearic Courts
The Ministry of the Presidency, Justice, and Parliamentary Relations has issued a directive requiring all courts and tribunals in the Balearic Islands to employ the official Catalan‑language designations of their headquarters in every court order, ruling, and judgment. This requirement applies regardless of the language in which a document is written.
Key Implementation Points
- Official Catalan names must appear on all court documents, including court orders, judgments, and rulings.
- Spanish‑language place names such as Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, and Mahón will be discontinued for official use.
- The newly mandated Catalan names—Palma, Eivissa, and Maó—will replace the previously common Spanish forms.
Background and Justification
This measure follows a formal request submitted in March 2025, which highlighted that the majority of courts in Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, and Mahón still listed Spanish names on their documentation and letterheads. The Ministry’s directive is intended to align court‑related terminology with the official Catalan‑language nomenclature used throughout the Balearic Islands.
Upcoming Changes
For future court correspondence, the place names of Palma, Eivissa, and Maó will be used consistently. The previously common forms Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, and Mahón will no longer be utilised in official settings.
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‘And act of justice’
Official Toponymy Adoption in Judicial Proceedings
Ministerial Statement
The changes in municipal names become official when they are registered in the Registry of Local Entities and published in the Official State Gazette. Therefore, applying the toponymy of the official language in all judicial proceedings is appropriate.
Association Reaction
FEM-HO, a Menorcan association defending the Catalan language, welcomed the decision, calling it “an act of justice”.
Statement Highlights
- The judiciary’s use of unofficial names in its actions was unacceptable and incomprehensible.
- The legislation regulating toponymy is clear: all official toponyms in the Balearic Islands are, for all intents and purposes, in Catalan.
How about Spanish speakers’ rights?
Hablemos Español Criticizes Language Measure
On the social network X, the association Hablemos Español—dedicated to promoting a unified national language—expressed strong opposition to the new policy. The group wrote that the legislation could “continue the plundering of our toponymy,” echoing concerns raised in other Spanish regions such as Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, and Galicia.
Association’s Historical Context
“It’s worth remembering that the association was founded to defend the rights of Spanish speakers,” the post noted, underscoring the organization’s longstanding mission.
Key Points of the Critique
- Potential loss of local place names
- Alignment with regional linguistic debates
- Call for safeguarding national toponymy
Regional Implications
The criticism highlights a broader pattern of linguistic tension across Spain, where debates over language use and regional identities continue to shape public policy.
