10 In a recent radio program commemorating the centenary of Josep Maria Llompart, a Mallorcan intellectual, questioned by the journalist about the current Balearic Islands government's language policy, described it as curious, even strange. She stated that, at this time, laws are being passed or are being considered that go against the language, but, on the other hand, there are numerous institutional activities in favor of the language, funded by the government. The same interviewee contrasted the current situation with that of the disastrous—her adjective was the one she used—government of José Ramón Bauzá. She is right about this, but upon closer examination, Prohens's language policy is not so novel. In fact, it bears many similarities to that of Jaume Matas: maintaining a healthy distance from the most radical wing of Gonella's faction, promoting institutional activities, some quite significant, such as the Any Llompart event itself, subsidizing and treating the cultural sector well to keep it secure, and, meanwhile, limiting any possibility of a real and effective exercise of equality between Catalan and Spanish.

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