Spanish councillor apologises after using face mask to lip-synch EU award bid in flawless English
A Valencian councillor who took advantage of the rising social norm of face masks to hide his lips as he mimicked giving a speech to the European Council on innovation in flawless, northern-tinged English, has apologised.
Carlos Galiana Llorens, the city’s deputy mayor responsible for Culture, Education and Sport, had been tasked with making the case to Brussels for his city to be named the European Capital of Innovation 2020.
However dressed in a suit and tie with a black face mask, the politician and trained actor’s presentation stood out not for its compelling case in favour of Spain’s third largest city - but for the uncannily flawless English he deployed.
Nodding along and looking down at the papers beneath him, Mr Galiana told those listening with a regional English lilt: “A very good morning from Valencia. We’d like to send you a big hug and the best of health for you and your loved ones in these difficult times”.
“Thank you for the opportunity to share Valncia’s mission innovation model with the rest of Europe” he added, before placing his hand on his chest and saying “it is an honour”.
However, the honour was not all his own - and while the politician mimed speech, his address was instead being given by a native English speaker.
Spanish publication El Español reports Mr Galiana was forced to step up to give the address after the city’s mayor was called away to a meeting. While he did not feel comfortable in his skills as an English-speaker, he saw an opportunity in the use of a face covering, and some of his acting prowess.
Meanwhile the rules of the competition, which was won by Leuven, Belgium, meant only one person could appear on camera - ruling out the use of a translator dubbed over his contribution.
"The decision I made yesterday to carry out my intervention with a translator was with the intention that the message to be transmitted arrived in the clearest way possible”, he told the newspaper in a statement. “But seen from a distance I have realised that it was not the most appropriate”.
“I deeply regret that a specific and individual action is taking the limelight away from this entire journey and work that… we have been carrying out for years across different areas, to position ourselves as a recognisable pole of innovation within Europe,"
While the councillor’s use of the face mask has drawn a smile in some quarters, criticism from opposition politicians has also followed.
“Yesterday, it was a very important day for Valencia (perhaps, one of the most important). We were in the running to be the European Capital of Innovation. But yesterday, we were the scene of an unprecedented embarrassment”, said the People’s Party spokesperson in the city council, María José Catalá
She added that she was “very concerned about the damage that this fact is causing to the image of the city of Valencia, and about the repercussions on credibility with the European institutions”.
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