Nantes in Brittany? A petition of 100,000 signatures requests a vote on the question

It took them over two years to travel through polling stations, markets and other cultural events, but they did it. This Tuesday, the members of the Brittany badociation will meet the departmental council of Loire-Atlantique arms loaded with twenty boxes of cardboard. At 18h, they must give Philippe Grosvalet, the president of the department, the 100,000 handwritten signatures they have collected for their petition. Objective: the organization of a popular consultation on the question of the attachment of the
Loire-Atlantique to the
Britain.

"Wherever we have been, in Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Châteaubriant or Pornic, there is a thirst for Brittany but also a thirst for democracy, says Henry Colliot, vice president of Brittany met. A petition of this magnitude, with the participation of 10% of an electorate, is unheard of in France! But also a necessary condition for the issue to be included in the agenda of a forthcoming session of the county council. Under the NOTRe law, the right of option allows the departments, until next March, to choose another region of attachment.

Members of @bretagnereunie have collected 100,000 signatures. Their petition requests the organization of a vote on the attachment of the Loire-Atlantique to the #Britain pic.twitter.com/DwxaFABN1d

– 20 Minutes Nantes (@ 20minutesnantes) November 27, 2018

Advisory vote

The dream of these advocates of reunification is therefore that the county councilors give their go-ahead to a consultative vote, organized by the town halls, whose date they have even imagined (February 25th). "After the referendum of Notre-Dame-des-Landes where some have seen their vote flouted, it would be a good way to reconcile the population and institutions, said Paul Loret, president of Brittany met. It's been 45 years since this subject has been debated between people. We need a real democratic debate. "

While the latest polls give them every time right, the activists of Brittany gathered especially hope that after a final vote of the county badembly, the Loire-Atlantique leaves the Pays de la Loire (which she joined in 1972) for the neighboring region. Beyond historical and cultural arguments, they see it as an economic issue. "This territorial identity is important for tourism, for the development of the port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, but also for the many companies that want this Breton positive label, explains Brittany together. As for the rivalry between the cities, we can imagine three capital cities: Brest for the maritime aspect,
Rennes for administrative and Nantes as economic capital. "

President Grosvalet not in favor

Still, many resistances in a tight schedule are to cross to get there. Because the chairman of the departmental council Philippe Grosvalet has always been against this idea. Even if the question was put to the vote of the badembly, not sure that a majority could be released.

Discussions will also have to be held in both regions. If the Brittany region is interested in this perspective, not sure that the Pays de la Loire are going to say goodbye to this motor department. "It would be a failure if we can not take our approach to the end, and a risk that the voters then go to extremes or shun the ballot box, judge Paul Loret. But we will not stop there and hit higher up to the state. "