Repeal of the Basque language has just started in the Basque Country. The High Court of the Basque Country (STJPV) has suspended two decrees passed by former government granting Basque the status of teaching language in primary and high school education. Right after their approval, a Parent-Teacher Association called Plataforma por la Libertad de Elección Lingüística (Organisation for the Freedom of Language Choice) appealed against them on the grounds they abolished the right to choose Castilian/Spanish.

The High Court has accepted the appeals for consideration and has proceeded to take precautionary measures against the governmental decrees. According to diariovasco.com, new Basque premier, the Socialist Patxi López, had said in his investiture he would abolish the articles establishing Basque as the teaching language "immediately". Articles have been abolished without delay solely because the government "does not oppose the move", the newspaper reports.

The Organisation for the Freedom of Language Choice expressed its support for the court ruling: "schools and institutes will no longer seek protection in legal decrees promoting changes of dubious legality in the education system", El Correo reports. According to the newspaper, PP's (Spanish conservatives) branch in the Basque Country congratulated themselves for the court's decision as "it confirms that the policies of language imposition carried out by former Ministry of Education were illegal".

Further information:

• EiTB: El TSJPV suspende los decretos que establecían el euskera como lengua vehicular
• Gara:El TSJPV suspende los decretos que establecían el euskara como "lengua vehicular"
• El Correo: El Tribunal Superior suspende de forma cautelar la prioridad del euskera en la enseñanza

See the Basque Country profile for further information.