Pro-independence forces call for Catalan, Galician, and Basque to be spoken in Spain's Senate

The Catalan pro-independence forces, Esquerra Republicana per Catalunya (ERC) and Junts, as well as other Spanish regional political groups, urge the Senate to change its legislation to be able to speak any of the co-official languages in the upper house.

ERC and Junts are accompanied by the Basque Country's PNB and EH Bildu, Navarra's Geroa Bai, and senators for Eivissa and Formentera.

They are calling to reform the chamber's legislation to allow the "full and normalized use" of Catalan, Aranese, Basque, and Galician, as a statement released on Monday reads. The request is based on the Spanish Constitution recognizing the use of all official languages.

Supporters of the proposal claim they want to correct the "flagrant rights violation" of not being able to speak Catalan, Galician, Basque, or Aranese in the upper house, which is territorially divided.

While speaking in Catalan in the Senate is still not allowed, members of Congress can use any of the co-official languages in the lower house after a deal between pro-independence forces and the Socialists.