Panama Expresses Confidence in Hosting 2028 International Spanish Language Congress

The director of the Panamanian Academy of Language, Jorge Eduardo Ritter, expressed this Friday to EFE his confidence that Panama will host the International Congress of the Spanish Language (CILE) in 2028, calling the controversy over the matter a 'setback' between the Cervantes Institute and the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE). Ritter stated that Panama is 'already working' on the organization of the CILE, as it is an event that requires a lot of work and coordination. 'Honestly, I hope and I would love for that to be the case, and that there would not be this disagreement that seems to exist between the Cervantes Institute and the Association of Spanish Language Academies (Asale),' he added. The director of the Panamanian Academy and former chancellor also highlighted that the candidacy was presented 'in advance' to Asale, with 'letters from the Government of Panama' addressed to both that association and the Cervantes Institute. 'We presented Panama's candidacy at the Congress of Arequipa,' held in Peru last October, 'which was done as traditionally has been done,' Ritter explained, 'and it was approved in a private meeting by the 23 Spanish language academies grouped in Asale, in which no other candidacy was presented.' 'I am sure this is a setback, if you will, but that we will be able to achieve that Panama holds it,' Ritter affirmed, recalling that his country has experience in organizing this event as it already hosted the CILE in 2013. The director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero, accused last Tuesday the director of the RAE, Santiago Muñoz Machado, of trying to unilaterally impose Panama as the host of the 2028 CILE, arguing, among other reasons, that it is up to the institution he leads 'to propose to the language academies a venue.' 'Especially because Asale spoke unanimously in favor of Panama's candidacy,' Ritter stated. The CILEs are held every three years and are jointly organized by the Cervantes Institute, the RAE, and the Asale association of academies in collaboration with the host country. Asale is chaired by the director of the RAE.