The 27

th
September 2014: Another
mass meeting to be held in Nantes
for the reunification of Brittany
One last mass meeting for reunification in Nantes 20.09.2008
!utting Brittany"s reunification on the
political agenda
T#o Breton groups are intent on putting the issue of Breton
reunification on the political agenda ne$t September% by
organising a mass meeting in Nantes

This particular Saturday &27th September 2014' people #ill be
urged to tra(el to Nantes from all o(er Brittany to ta)e part in
a mass meeting Bretagne reunie and *44=BZH #ant to
sho# to the go(ernment that the issue of Breton reunification
should be firmly on the political agenda ahead of ne$t year"s
regional election

The groups say that they are determined to get more political
parties coming out in support of Breton reunification as part
of their election campaign and #ant to start a debate on the
issue in the run+up to regional elections

The democratic e$ample being set by ,estminster under the
referendum procedure in Scotland highlights a complete lac)
of respect by the -rench go(ernment for Breton people in the
legislati(e process for the redistribution of Brittany"s
boundaries (but not only for them)
-eelings of Bretons about the reunification
.pinion polls
Several opinion polls conducted in oire!"tlanti#ue and others parts of
$rittany in the recent past have sho%n a ma&ority of votes in favour of
reunification %ith $rittany.
'999 (es )8 * of oire!"tlanti#ue inhabitants +,O
2000 (es -' * according an /nstitut 0SA study
200' (es -. * according to the /fop
200' (es )/* according to a study of 1S20 34
200) (es )- * according to the same council
(0conomic and Social 1esearch 2ouncil)
2009 (es )3* according an /nstitut 0SA study
20'3 (es -0* according Ouest 4rance poll (''' 000 voters)
http566%%%.ouest!france.fr6fusion!des!regions!vous!voule7!une!bretagne!.!et!une!seule!normandie!2.9'93-
20'3 (es ..* according to bva poll
http566%%%.bva.fr6data6sondage6sondage8fiche6'.8-6fichier8lh28pour8bretagne8reunie8!8territoire8ideal8de8bretagnef-2)3.pdf
Some !rotests% 5emonstrations and Actions

+he $reton9s :emocratic ;nion (;:$) started a big
campaign in November 200- consisting of a massive
poster campaign promoting the idea of a reunification.
,ore than '00 billboards presented the follo%ing
message to passing pedestrians and drivers5 Four
strong regions instead of six weak ones.
Sunday< ,arch 2'< 20'0
+he 'Human Fresco' %as a great
success as can be seen from the
aerial photo. 2000 citi7ens turned
out to ta=e part and to spell out<
%ith their rain soa=ed bodies< that
department 33< oire!"tlantic< is
part of $rittany. 44 6 B78
Gwenael HENRY - 15 a i! Gwengolo "#1$ - %age 1
+he $reton 1egional 2ouncil and
the departmental council of oire
"tlanti#ue have both previously
voted in favour of reunification (the
$reton 1egional 2ouncil have in fact
voted for reunification three times)
and every poll conducted in oire
"tlanti#ue sho%s that the electorate
are strongly in favour of the same.

A sense of local belonging

+he #uestion of the eastern border and of the
reunification of $rittany must not be put in terms of
perpetuating the past but rather the sub&ective
building of identity. 0very%here in the %orld< today<
people %ant to become the sub&ects of their life<
re&ecting more firmly establishment prescribed
identities. ,oreover< globali7ation leads to a ne%
production of identity5 groups reinvent their pro&ects.
"ccording to "r&un "ppadurai< >the tas= of producing
locality is increasingly a struggle? because it is often
opposed to the pro&ects of the Nation!State
themselves.
5emocracy
@hat can the State do< vis!a!vis the production by
citi7ens of a Astructure of feelingA %hich does not
correspond to its decisionsB "nd %hat can the
citi7ens do to concreti7e their aspirationsB Ct is
=no%n that -0* of the inhabitants of oire!
"tlanti#ue %ant a referendum to be held on this
topicD ho%ever< the initiative of the referenda
eEclusively belongs to the State. Csn9t this a
central issue in reflections on democracy todayB
"ccording to :avid Feld< the >decisive
contribution to ma=ing the polity more democratic?
today is to =no% >ho% can the re#uirements of
both a 9sovereign state9 and a 9sovereign people9 be metBA. This
9uestion is not e(en permitted to be posed in Brittany
1conomic Benefits of Brittany"s 2eunification

+oday (20'2)< the figures suggest that the G:H per capita of oire!
"tlanti#ue and Clle!et!Iilaine are roughly '20 percent of the average
level of @estern $rittany. o% %or=ing population density and a high
share of rural population are some of the main structural obstacles to
higher productivity and gro%th in the @est.

1ennes and Nantes< along %ith their satellite to%ns< are among the most
densely populated areas. +his has enabled them to develop core
industries< spillovers< =no%!ho% and dynamic =no%ledge eEternalities.
+here is over%helming evidence that differences in %or=ing population
densities are an important factor in the divergence of gro%th bet%een
@estern and 0astern $rittany.

,oreover the close economic relationship bet%een these t%o eastern
$reton cities and Haris is mainly to the benefit of the capital region
instead of the %estern part of $rittany.

0conomic data 2008
Gwenael HENRY - 15 a i! Gwengolo "#1$ - %age 2

+he Haris technocracy %onJt be budged from the vie% that a single
region %ith t%o large cities K Nantes and 1ennes K &ust %onJt %or=. +ry it
and see then. (ou =no%< li=e 0dinburgh and Glasgo%< 2ardiff and
S%ansea< $ristol and Southampton. No. +hatJs too empirical by far.

$ut despite the long!standing and oft!noted rivalry bet%een 1ennes and
Nantes< stronger and more complementary economic relationships
bet%een these t%o cities and the %estern part of $rittany %ould generate
higher levels of sustainable economic gro%th and development.

;nfortunately< the obvious economic benefits of the reunification are
rarely mentioned by the politicians or the media< all of %hom focus only
on possible negative outcomes K predicting that it %ould be unfair and
un&ust for the others Hays!de!la!oire departments< that it %ould not
%or=< that it %ould cost a lot of money and so forth. Nobody ever
mentions the positive long term effects such as economic progress for
$rittany.
0ould reunification happen one day:
/n September 200;< 4rench Hresident Nicolas Sar=o7y announced5
A+he time has come to address the issue of the many layers of local
government< for their overlapping responsibilities are a source of
inefficiency and very high costs.A

4ormer 4rench Hrime ,inister 0douard $alladur %as put in charge of the
governmental 2ommission loo=ing into slashing 4rance9s infamous
administrative bureaucracy.

Fis conclusions< =no%n as A+he
$alladur 1eportA< suggested a cut
bac= on local government by
merging some of 4rance9s regions
and reducing their number from
22 to '.. Cnitially< <r Balladur"s
draft report recommended that
the =oire+Atlanti9ue should be
reunited #ith Brittany


+he $reton 1egional 2ouncil< the departmental council of oire!
"tlanti#ue< and a number of local councils have all voted in favour of
reunification.

8o#e(er% the former <ayor of Nantes >ean+<arc Ayrault strongly
opposes a reunification %ith $rittany

4inally this pro&ect collapsed and the report %as buried.

/n early >une 2014< Hresident
4ranLois Follande< a man =no%n to
prefer consensus to conflict<
entered the historic fray by
announcing that he had (%ith a
very small committee) redra%n< the
country9s internal borders.

+hen< very #uic=ly the parliament
approved the draft pro&ect la% on an e$pedited basis as soon as Muly
2/th< in order to prevent a second reading at the opening of Harliament
after the summer bra=e. "nd of course< these changes %ere approved
%ithout proper consultation %ith affected local populations< and even in
open defiance of the %ill of some AprovincesA.
Gwenael HENRY - 15 a i! Gwengolo "#1$ - %age 3
?ross domestic product &?5!' by department
@ear 2012 @ear 2012
!opulation ?5! per capita ?5!
2011 in 1uros <illions 1uros
Bretagne 22 2Ntes!d9"rmor
29 4inistOre
/. Clle!et!Iilaine
.) ,orbihan
33 oire!"tlanti#ue
Normandy 2- 0ure
-) Seine!,aritime
'3 2alvados
.0 ,anche
)' Orne
!oitou+0harentes ') 2harente
'- 2harente!,aritime
-9 :euE!SOvres
8) Iienne
8. IendPe
=oire"s (alley '8 2her
28 0ure!et!oir
/) Cndre
/- Cndre!et!oire
3' oir!et!2her
3. oiret
39 ,aine!et!oire
./ ,ayenne
-2 Sarthe
)'39-/
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Of course one more time< former H, "yrault and his Macobin supporters<
including the ne% elected ,ayor of 1ennes< Nathalie "ppPrP< still
believe that they can continue to t%ist and refuse to legitimate any
popular action in favour of reunification by organi7ing press conference
against the case.

Fo%ever< they are symptomatic of a parliamentary practice %here<
ultimately< everything is more or less decided in advance< in small
committees< by means of the regime9s barons and of the most senior
aides of the Hresident to discuss sensitive territorial delineation related
matters< and< of course< in the name of effectiveness and rationality.

"lthough the %orst possible scenario has been contained by the strong
protest interventions of blue chip $reton politicians. +he merger of
$rittany and Hays de oire %as avoided (the big %est region).

$ut a uni#ue and historic opportunity for a settlement of the oire!
"tlanti#ue problem has been eEcluded for state!religious reasons5 the
Harisians9 phobia against $rittany reunification.

+here is no alternative< +he departments of Hays!de!la!oire shall be
shared bet%een the surrounding regions.

So< in September %e must =eep up the pressure< and %e %ill< to
encourage the 4rench government to ta=e the road of reunification and
devolution because it is actually the best road that %ill lead us to%ard
economic recovery.

$rittany needs devolution and reunification to develop a meaningful plan
that %ill generate hope and confidence among $reton peoples and that
%ill< in turn< motivate them.

8o# the ?o(ernment #ill Fustify that decision:
Cn the same period< the Hrime ,inister and perhaps the Hresident of the
1epublic are eEpected at the congress of the "14 ("ssociation des
1egions de 4rance) in +oulouse on October 9 and '0. Cn the middle of
an urgency debate on the dates for the regional elections and on draft
la%s under discussion on the division of po%ers for the future ma&or
regions.

+he 2ongress of the "14 %ill be undoubtedly heated and eEciting. Cn a
period of large!scale territorial reform< Hrime ,inister ,anuel Ialls %ill
eEpress himself< probably in the 4riday morning closing session.

+he 0lysee< mean%hile< has not yet confirmed the participation of the
head of state< but it is li=ely that 4ranLois Follande also intervene before
the congress of regional presidents. ,ap of ne% regions< discussion of
po%ers act< funding< electoral calendar... +opics of discussion and
debate %ill not fail.

,ap of ne% regions ('/
instead of 22) %ould by
then have been approved
by the Harliament as part of
an "emergency procedure"
that %ould avoid a second
reading of the draft la% in
the Senate and the
National "ssembly. Cn this
case< in early October< the
eEecutive %ould spea= to
an audience of regional
presidents... %hich half %ill
be destined to disappearR
Gwenael HENRY - 15 a i! Gwengolo "#1$ - %age 4
/t"s -rance a democracy in anything other than name:
.f course not% more accurately% it is a Gfla#ed democracyG
2onsider the po%er of the 4rench parliament. Cn a real democracy such
as Nor%ay< or Ne%!Sealand< the legislature is the supreme decision!
ma=ing body. 4rance9s legislature< by contrast< is one of the %ea=est in
0urope. $ecause the president %ields huge po%er< it is difficult for the
legislature to shape legislation and hold the government to account.

+he president is elected too< of course< but there is a greater ris= of a
single decision!ma=er ta=ing action against citi7ens9 %ishes than a
legislature composed of hundreds of elected officials< %hich has its o%n
inherent chec=s and balances.

+his is one reason 4rance performs badly %ith regard to Afunctioning of
governmentA.

:emocracy is not &ust a matter of an
individual casting a vote5 it also
depends on the ability of the
individual voter to ma=e legislative
proposals in a relatively ob&ective
and legal %ay. +hat has palpably
not been the case in 4rance.
:emocracy depends also on a
separation of political< technocratic
and economic po%er. +he gro%th of
lobby interests in 4rance since '9.)
has significantly %ea=ened that
separation.

Cs 4rance still a democracy %hen
the citi7ens have no input or actual
say in %hen la%s are passed or ho%
the regional limits are definedB
5ictatorship is: shut your mouth
5emocracy is: )eep tal)ing
Some unsol(ed problems remainH

Fo%ever< a ma&or issue %ill remain< in 4rance9s heartland three regions
stay unchanged5 2entre region< Hays!de!la!oire and $rittany. " solution
%ould therefore be to merge parts of Hays de la oire %ith the %hole
region 2entre and to let oire!"tlanti#ue go bac= to its region of origin< in
$rittany.


4ranceJs 22 regions are to be reduced to '/. TSocialismJ< one %ould
thin=< is about society. "nd society is made up of communities<
intermediate po%ers bet%een the centre and the individual that need to
be cherished. Not so for Follande< ever true to the Macobin ideal that the
&ob of the State is to nip community in the bud< in the name of the one
true community K itself. So the claims of $as#ues< 2atalans and
Gwenael HENRY - 15 a i! Gwengolo "#1$ - %age 5
Savoyards to separate regional status continue to be ignored. +hose of
"lsatians< long recognised< are to be overturned. Cn the one piece of
good ne%s< if the reforms do happen< the t%o halves of Normandy are to
be re!united at last. +he result %ill be a single region %ith t%o large
cities< 2aen and 1ouen. (et by a stro=e of the same pen< $rittany is to
remain partitioned.

:oes it ma=e any sense< other than in the terms of continuing Harisian
supremacyB Of course not.

(ou %ill have the identity that Haris decides that you %ill have. Faving
your o%n< real identity is a threat to the unity of 4rance and that %ould
never do. CtJs a 4rench thing< the %holly irrational foundation of the
supposedly rational 1epublic< as indivisible as the Foly +rinity.

Fo%ever by allo%ing for that =ind of transfer for departments< one %ould
get balanced entities. 4or eEample< there are a preceding re#uests on
behalf of politicians and populations of the 2entre region (see lin=s
belo%)< but the government %ill never hear the case.

$ut to achieve this ob&ective the government should integrate into the
la% a right of option for departments to choose a ne% region of
belonging. "nd the opportunity still eEists because the government may
eEceptionally allo% the Senate to bring ne% amendments in a second
reading.

Cndeed< upcoming partial senatorial elections are scheduled to ta=e
place in end of September and the current Senate composition could be
changed to reflect the election result. +he ne%ly elected senators may
as= to ma=e their vie%s =no%n.
The question of redrawing France's region Centre in the local press

https566ceser.regioncentre.fr6cms6home6actualite6la!reforme!territoriale.html
http566%%%.magcentre.fr6grouard!/6
http566%%%.larep.fr6loiret6actualite620'360)6'86reforme!territoriale!cap!a!l!ouest!sinon!rien!pour!eric!
dolige8''03)2)-.html
http566&eanmariebeffara.fr6fusion!centre!pays!de!la!loire!lamendement!re&ete!mais!une!idee!#ui!
progresse6
http566%%%.liberation.fr6societe620'360.6/06la!region!centre!plaide!pour!une!grande!region!autour!
du!val!de!loire8'0/0.0'
http566&eanpierredoor.over!blog.com620'360-6les!regions!un!monopoly!de!mauvaise!facture.html
http566%%%.latribune.fr6actualites6economie6france620'/0-08trib000--3.336decentralisation!la!
reforme!#ui!vient!de!la!france!d!en!bas.html
0ould #e not be edified by the good e$ample of othersB
+he more citi7ens are distrustful of their leaders< &udges and civil
servants< the more the eEercise of freedom seems to threaten the
cohesion of society.

,inisters< ,Hs and Senators must stop to be distant figures in ivory
to%ers in Haris< and they must be committed to creating local
Harliaments that stand as beacons of social &ustice in this country.

CtJs time %e got our priorities right. :evolved assemblies %ill bring
government closer to the people< and in doing so %ill strengthen our
democratic life and enhance social &ustice.

+he people of Scotland< the best of (es and No< are outriders for the
rest of us. +hey are sho%ing us ho% politics can be done %hen a proper
invitation and opening is made. +hey are giving us hope and sho%ing us
the %ay.

+he implications of a (es or No are profound. CtJs for the people of
Scotland to decide< but the route to that decision is proving to be
incredibly instructive for the =ind of politics %e need.
35B urges its acti(ists to remain committed
+he $reton peoples must remain committed to support the efforts of the
activists to achieve this strategic shift< and to reshape their country in
order to put it on the path to%ards sustainable development..
0ome in large
numbers to Nantes
on the 27I0EI2014
;$: activists %al= in a demonstration
in the streets of Nantes (2860)620'3)
%%%.udb!b7h.net

Gwenael HENRY - 15 a i! Gwengolo "#1$ - %age 6