“Spain is not broken because other languages ​​are spoken, no matter who is against it”

The Galician author Maria Jesus Pato Diaz known as Chus Pato, awarded this Thursday with the 2025 National Poetry Prize for her work ‘Sonora’ (General), has assured that “Spain does not break up because other languages ​​are spoken”” and he acknowledges that there is a lot of work to be done to ensure that authors who write in co-official languages ​​are recognised throughout the country.

“Spain is not broken because other languages ​​are spoken, whether you like it or not. Nobody can tear a tongue out of your mouth, it’s impossible”he said in statements to Europa Press.

The writer believes that it would be “wonderful” if the Spanish education system contemplated the study of co-official languages, although she adds that she sees it as normal that “an Andalusian person does not speak any other language than Castilian.” Chus Pato, who was a History and Geography teacher until her retirement, has said that she does not want to know anything about the current educational system.

“To be honest, since I left high school and retired, I don’t want to know anything about educational plans. I don’t want to know anything more about the subject.“They invite me to go to schools and I don’t go. I started when I was 3 and I went to them until I was 62. I’ve been there a lot,” he joked.

However, he admits that during the last few years of his career he has seen how literature has gradually lost its presence in the lives of students.The common man thinks that poetry is something that is written as a teenager and serves to declare yourself.“, he said.

Regarding the award, Chus Pato celebrates that it is a recognition of Galician and for her it represents a “unique” opportunity.The general director of the Book, María José Gálvez, called me and I quickly told my husband, my daughters and my editor, both in Galician and in Spanish.“, he acknowledged.

The writer explained that the news took her by surprise because she did not know that the National Prize would be awarded on Thursday. “It seems like a miracle. I was not expecting this at all. When you write a book, you always hope to receive awards, of course you do, even the Nobel Prize, but you know that these are illusions.and you know that the chances of winning a prize like this are small,” he said.

During the interview, Chus Pato pointed out that making a living from poetry is very difficult for writers of his generation.I don’t remember anyone thinking of making a living from poetry. We were finishing our studies and what we wanted was to pass the exams and become teachers,” has indicated.

In this sense, he praised the new generations of poets because they cannot conceive of working as writers for free. “What I have learned from young people is that you cannot do anything for free. We must dignify what we do and it is a job, therefore we must always get paid,” has stated.

“When you do poetic work, you have to charge for it. The publishers have to give you your money from the royalties. And this cannot happen by the grace of God. I am totally against (working for free).” We didn’t do this in my generation, because it didn’t cross our minds.“, he stressed.