Reunification Of Brittany

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.

In 1941, the Vichy government separated the region of Loire-Atlantique from historic Brittany, which today remains a part of the Pays de la Loire administrative region. 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.

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.

Early official calls

On 30 June 2001, 60 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.

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.

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 he 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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”.

In 2022, Aziliz Gouez, leader of the 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).

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.

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. Twenty-five deputies of the five departments of historical Brittany signed a bill for a consultation with the inhabitants of Loire Atlantique on reunification.

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".

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.

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.

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

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".

Polling

Reunification

* In the Loire-Atlantique 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.
* A September 2000 poll found 65% in favour of reunification across the 5 departments.
* A 2001 poll found support for reunification at over 62% strongly in favour or in favour.
* A November 2001 poll found 63% in favour in the Brittany administrative region.
* A poll in July 2002 by IFOP - Ouest-France found that 75% were in favour of the reunification of Brittany compared to 16% opposed.
* A poll in October 2002 found 56% in favour across all 5 departments.
* A November 2002 poll found 67% in favour in the Brittany administrative region.
* A May 2003 poll found 71% in favour.
* 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.
* A 2013 poll found that 44% of Bretons supported the reunification of Brittany with 36% against.
* A poll in January 2014 found 58% in favour of reunification.
* A poll in April 2014 found that 63% of those in Loire Atlantique and 57% of those in administrative Brittany supported reunification.
* A poll in July 2014 found that 70% of people in Loire Atlantique and 75% of people in Brittany supported reunification.
* 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.
* 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.
* A 2021 poll found 63% of those in Loire-Atlantique in favour of reunification with 37% opposed.

Independence

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

See also

Brittany

* Breton nationalism

Other countries

* Pan-Celtism
* Cornish nationalism
* Cornish devolution
* Welsh nationalism
* Welsh devolution
* Welsh independence
* United Ireland
* Galician independence movement
* Corsican autonomy
* Catalan independence movement

References

{{Celtic nationalism

Borders of administrative divisions
Breton nationalism
Cultural boundaries
Internal territorial disputes
Land disputes
Loire-Atlantique
National unifications
Political controversies in France
Politics of Pays de la Loire
Proposed political unions
Territorial disputes of France
Territorial evolution of France