The Parliament of Catalonia passed today a law recognizing Aran's "national identity," understood as an "Occitan national reality." The new Law on the special status of Aran, which will be replacing a previous one in force since 1990, also accepts the "right of the Aranese people to decide its own future", although it does not specify how this right can be excercised.

Aran is Catalonia's only Occitan-speaking territory. It has had its own institutions of self-government since the Middle Ages. With some 10,000 inhabitants, it has an area of 633 square kilometres. Occitan, Catalan and Spanish are the official languages there. The law, as passed today, recognizes Occitan as Aran's "own language" which should be of "normal and preferential use" by the public administration there.

The law was today approved with the support of all the political parties in the Parliament (CiU, ERC, PSC, PP, ICV-EUiA and CUP) except for the Citizens' Party (C's), which abstained.

PP and C's, however, demanded a separate vote on the issue of Aran's "right to decide." Both parties voted against that right, but it nevertheless was passed since all other groups voted for.

The new law also grants Aran partial self-government over areas such as education, health, culture, local government, environment and housing, which are devolved by the Government of Catalonia.

But Aran's elected chamber, the General Council, will not be vested with legislative powers. The Spanish Constitution only recognizes law-making powers to the Spanish Parliament, the Spanish Government and each one of Spain's autonomous communities -Aran continues to be a part of Catalonia.

Nevertheless, today's law says that the Catalan Parliament should push for the "recognition of Aran's political autonomy" in the event of an amendment to the Spanish Constitution. This could grant Aran legislative powers if the Spanish Parliament agreed to.

Two main Aranese parties do not agree over law significance

The Síndic (President) of Aran, Carlos Barrera (Aranese Democratic Convergence), argues the new law is a "step forward in the recognition of the territorial, historical and political identity of the Aran Valley within Catalonia."

But main Aranese opposition party Aran's Unity leader Paco Boya believes the law does not adequately address the valley's need for funding in order to exercise its autonomous powers.

As regards Catalonia's parties, they have shown their different stances over the issues of self-government and the relations between Aran and Occitania during today's parliamentary session.

Catalan-only parties CiU, ERC, ICV-EUiA and CUP highlighted the fact that the new law will expand the ability of Aran to rule itself. ICV and CUP also said recognizing the links between Aran and Occitania was an important, right decision.

But Spain-wide parties PP and C's contested the notion that the Aranese population feels itself as part of a larger, Occitan nation.