Breton and Pan-Celtic flags, Church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul during the Maniff Breizh (in support of the reunification of Brittany) in Nantes on September 24, 2016
French administrative regions, with Brittany in dark blue and the Loire-Atlantique department in light blue

The Reunification of Brittany or Breton Reunification is a political movement to reunite the Loire-Atlantique department with the administrative region of Brittany, to form the entire cultural and historical region of Brittany. This "reunification" is considered a prerequisite for further Breton autonomy.

Background

Brittany was an independent kingdom from the ninth century, then became a duchy until the dissolution of the French monarchy.[1]

In 1941, the Vichy government separated the region of Loire-Atlantique from historic Brittany which today remains a part of Pays de la Loire administrative region.[2] Loire-Atlantique including Brittany's ancient Duchy capital of Nantes, was separated from the rest of Brittany partly in retaliation for a large number of Bretons supporting the Free French National Council of Charles de Gaulle and also as an attack on Bretons who supported the independence of Brittany.[3]

Movement

The division of Brittany has been disputed by Breton militants, who say it was imposed via non-democratic government without consulting the people of Brittany. They argue that the administrative regions of Loire-Atlantique and Brittany are culturally, historically and geographically united and that Breton unity would bring about economic benefit.[4]

Early official calls

On 30 June 2001, 40 years after the division of historic Brittany, a mass demonstration occurred in Nantes calling to reunite Brittany. After this, the Loire-Atlantique council voted unanimously for reunification but in October the Rennes municipal council opposed this.[5]

On 8 October 2004, the Regional Council of Brittany unanimously voted for a resolution "in favour of the administrative reunification of Brittany". They proposed cooperation with the General Council of Loire-Atlantique in matters of mandatory and optional competencies and for the organisation of a unity referendum.[6]

2014 regional organisation

Former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and mayor of Nantes said it was "in the interest of the people" to merge the Loire-Atlantique with Brittany. His successor as mayor of Nantes, Johanna Rolland added, "For the future of our territories and the people living in them, let’s fight for a merger of Pays de la Loire and Bretagne”. Marc Le Fur, a member of parliament for the UMP party, said that President Hollande was "upholding Vichy [the wartime French state]". "He hasn't listened to his Breton ministers, or the Breton members of parliament, or to local businesses, or to cultural leaders. He is deaf. He won't listen to anyone." The organisation 44=BZH accused the French government of listening only to Loire-Atlantique's political leaders, who they claim are desperate to keep their jobs and are ignoring the views of the people of Brittany.[7]

Public support

In 2014, between 13,000 and 30,000 people paraded in support of reunification. In 2016 there was also a parade of between 2,500 and 10,000 people.[8]

In October 2018, 1,500 to 3,000 people paraded in Nantes for the reunification of Brittany, calling for a referendum to reunite Loire-Atlantique with Brittany.[9]

In November 2018, over 100,000 citizens of Loire-Atlantique had signed a petition proposed by Bretagne réunie (Brittany reunited) to reunite Loire-Atlantique with Brittany.[9][10]

A road sign in Loire-Atlantique that says "welcome to historical Brittany"

Loire-Atlantique officials

In December 2018, the Departmental Council of Loire-Atlantique voted against modifying the regional boundaries directly, but in favour of a referendum on including Loire-Atlantique in the Brittany region.[11]

In 2021, Nantes town council voted in favour of requesting that the French government organise a referendum on Nantes leaving the Pays-de-la-Loire region to become part of Brittany.[12]

In June 2022, Loire-Atlantique council supported a resolution for a referendum.[13]

Regional Council of Brittany

In October 2021, the Regional Council of Brittany supported a resolution requesting that the French government “begins, with a view to 2024, the legislative process for consulting the electors of Loire-Atlantique on whether or not they wish to join Brittany”.[13]

In 2022, Aziliz Gouez, leader of the Breizh a-Gleiz group of Breton autonomists, supported the reunification of Brittany, which is seen as a prerequisite for a process of autonomy for Brittany. Her call for Breton autonomy was voted for by all the regional councillors (except for far-right Rassemblement National).[14]

In September 2022, the Regional Council of Brittany voted in favour of an impact assessment on reunification, to be jointly financially supported Loire-Atlantique. The results of the impact assessment are due to be published by March 2023 with hope of a consultation.[13]

In May 2023, a "transpartisan" body was formed in Nantes to "create the conditions for dialogue between communities and the State about the organisation of this citizen consultation", with the hope that a referendum can be held quickly.[15] Twenty-five deputies of the five departments of historical Brittany signed a bill for a consultation with the inhabitants of Loire Atlantique on reunification.[16]

In September 2023, in response to an offer by Emmanuel Macron to work towards greater autonomy for Corsica, Loïg Chesnais-Girard, president of the Brittany regional council, noted the disparity between the proposal and the "system of inefficient centralism from another age".[17]

International support

In 2014, a motion was signed in the UK House of Commons by 10 MPs supporting the reunification of the historic region of Brittany during the French government's reorganisation of France's super regions.[18]

In the same year, a written statement of opinion from politicians of Plaid Cymru in the Senedd also called on the French government to restore the historic boundaries of Brittany.[19]

In 2015, the European Free Alliance reaffirmed its support for the administrative reunification of Brittany with a single assembly.[20]

Opposition

Those opposed to Breton reunification argue that it could lead to a dispute between the capitals of Rennes and Nantes and that a united Brittany would not be big enough to deal with international economic competition and so propose a larger zone of the "Great West".[4]

Polling

Reunification

  • In the Loire-Atlentique department alone polls show support for reunification at; 62% in April 1998, 68% in March 1999, 75% in June 2001 and 67% in June 2006.[21]
  • A September 2000 poll found 65% in favour of reunification across the 5 departments.[21]
  • A 2001 poll found support for reunification at over 62% strongly in favour or in favour.[5]
  • A November 2001 poll found 63% in favour in the Brittany administrative region.[21]
  • A poll in July 2002 by IFOP - Ouest-France found that 75% were in favour of the reunification of Brittany compared to 16% opposed.[6]
  • A poll in October 2002 found 56% in favour across all 5 departments.[21]
  • A November 2002 poll found 67% in favour in the Brittany administrative region.[21]
  • A May 2003 poll found 71% in favour.[21]
  • A 2009 opinion poll found 68% in Loire-Atlantique in favour of reunification and 70% in favour in the administrative region of Brittany
  • A December 2012 poll found 58% in favour of reunification.[21]
  • A 2013 poll found that 44% of Bretons supported the reunification of Brittany with 36% against.[22]
  • A poll in January 2014 found 58% in favour of reunification.[21]
  • A poll in April 2014 found that 63% of those in Loire Atlantique and 57% of those in administrative Brittany supported reunification.[23]
  • A poll in July 2014 found that 70% of people in Loire Atlantique and 75% of people in Brittany supported reunification.[19]
  • A 2018 poll found that 40% of Bretons supported direct international representations for Brittany with 39% against. 35% supported law-making powers for Brittany with 49% against. Around 50% supported reunification with 30% against.[22]
  • A 2019 poll found that 47% of those living in the Brittany administrative region were in favour of reunification whilst 31% were against; 53% of those living in Loire-Atlantique were in favour and 25% against.[24]
  • A 2021 poll found 63% of those in Loire-Atlantique in favour of reunification with 37% opposed.[25]

Independence

  • A 2000 poll found that support for Breton independence was at 23%.[22]
  • A 2013 poll found 18% in favour of independence from France.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Celtic culture : a historical encyclopedia. Internet Archive. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO. 2006. pp. 241–242. ISBN 978-1-85109-440-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ↑ Hutchinson, Wesley; Ríordáin, Clíona Ní (2010). Language Issues: Ireland, France, Spain. Peter Lang. p. 161. ISBN 978-90-5201-649-8.
  3. ↑ Fishman, Joshua A.; García, Ofelia; Press, Oxford University (2010). Handbook of Language & Ethnic Identity. Oxford University Press. p. 251. ISBN 978-0-19-537492-6.
  4. 1 2 Le Coadic, Ronan. "Brittany's borders". pp. 2–3.
  5. 1 2 "Beyond the Unitary State? Public Opinion, Political Institutions and Public Policy in Brittany" (PDF). 18 August 2010.
  6. 1 2 "l'Ouest en mémoire - Manifestation pour la réunification de la Bretagne - Ina.fr". l'Ouest en mémoire. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Anger as plan to redraw French map omits 'Great Brittany'". France 24. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Vanzini, Pierre-Baptiste (25 September 2016). "La réunification de la Bretagne, un combat perdu ?". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  9. 1 2 "New demonstration for reunification of historical Brittany". Nationalia. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Loret, Paul (25 November 2022). "Pétition des 100 000, tribunal administratif". Bretagne Réunie (in French). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Loire-Atlantique. Les élus votent pour le référendum mais contre le rattachement". Presse Océan (in French). 17 December 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "French town of Nantes votes for referendum on exiting Pays-de-la-Loire region".
  13. 1 2 3 "Largest ever Brittany flag displayed in call for more local power". Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Keltz, Benjamin. "Brittany lays claim to autonomy, in Corsica's footsteps". Le Monde. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Des collectivités « unies » pour un référendum sur la Bretagne réunifiée". www.20minutes.fr (in French). 5 May 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  16. ↑ MOLAC, Paul (15 May 2023). "Proposition de loi en vue d'organiser une consultation en Loire Atlantique pour son retour en région Bretagne administrative". NHU | Votre Média Breton (in French). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (30 September 2023). "Macron opens door for Corsican autonomy". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Breton reunification". 12 June 2014.
  19. 1 2 "OPIN-2014-0320 Brittany". senedd.wales. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "DECLARATIONS. EFA General Assembly. Bautzen, 16 – 18 April 2015" (PDF).
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Les sondages". Bretagne Réunie (in French). Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Brittany". Nationalia. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Anger as plan to redraw French map omits 'Great Brittany'". France 24. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "Bretagne à cinq. Ce sondage qui relance le débat". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  25. ↑ "Le regard des habitants de la région sur l'avenir territorial des Pays de la Loire" (PDF). May 2021.
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