Breizh/Brittany: negative socialist agenda clouds Breton reunification moves

The biggest reorganisation of French 'regional' territory since the Second World War (WWII) is currently being worked out by the Balladur Committee, which will present its report to President Sarkozy of France next week (5th March).

Draft proposals of the Balladur Report have considered the reunification of Brittany, which was split into two parts under Vichy France in 1941. The reunification of Brittany has been one of the central aims of Breton nationalists since the end of WWII and with it would see the return to Brittany of Naoned/Nantes (Brittany's largest metropolitan area) and the rest of the present day Loire Atlantique department. If Breton reunification is proposed in the report, either a referendum will follow or consultation with the different regional assemblies concerned, to decide if the reorganisation should go ahead.

However, resistance to reunification has remained stiff from both right and left Jacobin politicians. The Le Monde newspaper yesterday (27th February) reported that the Mayor of Nanoed/Nantes, Jean-Marc Ayrault - who is also one of the Socialist Party's main leaders - was doing everything possible to influence the Balladur Committee so that Breton reunification would be omitted from the final report.

The newspaper reported that Mayor Ayrault:

« Dès qu'il l'a su, (il) a fait le siège téléphonique de Pierre Mauroy et d'André Vallini, les deux élus socialistes du comité, pour faire en sorte que cette proposition ne figure pas au rapport final ».

"As soon as he knew about (it) he made a telephone call to Pierre Mauroy and Andre Vallini, the two socialist elected officials on the committee, to tell them that the (reunification) proposal should not appear in the final report".

The Breton Regional Council, the departmental council of Loire Atlantique, a number of local councils have all previously voted in favour of reunification (the Breton Regional Council have in fact voted for reunification three times) and every poll conducted in Loire Atlantique shows that the electorate are strongly in favour of the same.

Unfortunately, Mayor Ayrault and his Jacobin supporters, including the Mayor of Roazhon/Rennes, Daniel Delaveau, still believe that they can over rule the democracy in France. The submission of Balladur's final report to Sarkozy at 11am on 5th March, will determine whether they are able to do just that.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 28/02/09

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