Tide of Breton flags on April 19, 2014 in Nantes, for the reintegration of the Loire-Atlantique in Brittany – Jean-Sébastien Evrard AFP
- The IFOP survey was commissioned by the “A la Bretonne”, “United for a great Loire Valley” and “Décidons en Vendée” collectives.
- It demonstrates a desire to decide through the ballot box to attach Loire-Atlantique to Brittany.
- Residents of the rest of the region, on the other hand, have no clear idea of their future without Loire-Atlantique.
What do you think of a possible dismantling of Pays-de-la-Loire due to the departure of Loire-Atlantique towards Brittany and what would be the consequences? In an attempt to deliver “reliable statistical information” on this subject, the citizens’ collectives “A la Bretonne”, “United for a great Loire Valley” and “Décidons en Vendée” have
ordered a survey from the IFOP institute. Various questions were asked to a representative panel of 1,002 people living in the five departments of Pays-de-la-Loire aged 18 and over.
First lesson: 66% of the inhabitants of the Pays-de-la-Loire consider it legitimate that the nationals of Loire-Atlantique can decide by referendum on the possible transfer of this department to Brittany. A rate which peaks at 80% in Loire-Atlantique. “This means that more than half a million citizens are quite sure to go to the polls. It is the duty of elected officials to hear this request, ”insists Kevin Jézéquel, vice-president of the collective “A la Bretonne”. The poll does not say, however, whether respondents from other departments would like to be able, too, to take part in the referendum.
Second lesson: 63% of voters in Loire-Atlantique declaring themselves motivated by a referendum would vote “yes” to the attachment of their department to Brittany. “This is a result in line with previous polls that have been organized on this issue. Despite the mixing of populations in this department, this wish remains constant, ”notes Jérôme Fourquet, director of studies at FIFG.
No to New Aquitaine and Center-Val-de-Loire
If this departure from Loire-Atlantique to Brittany took place, the future of the other departments remains unclear in the minds of their citizens. In Vendée, 60% of respondents are against being attached to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Same thing in Maine-et-Loire, Sarthe and Mayenne: 53% of the inhabitants of these three departments are opposed to being attached to the Center-Val-de-Loire region. They would prefer (54%) the creation of a new region bringing together their three departments.
“In Loire-Atlantique, this subject of redistribution is a mature question. While in the rest of the Pays-de-la-Loire, the reflection begins. The elected officials of these territories must seize it ”, considers Kevin Jézéquel.
The survey did not question residents to find out whether or not they were attached to a status quo in the current Pays-de-la-Loire region, a central question. “We are not the ones ordering the survey,” explains Jérôme Fourquet of the FIFG. The investigation will have cost 9,000 euros to the three citizen collectives. Almost all of it was funded by contributions from around 200 donors.