The letter to the Prime Minister must be sent in the next few hours. While in recent years, several communities have come out in favor of a referendum on the attachment of Loire-Atlantique to Brittany, the latter have decided to unite to weigh more in the debate. A body was officially created this Friday in Nantes with the aim of “creating the conditions for dialogue between communities and the State about the organization of this citizen consultation”. “We hope that it can take place as soon as possible”, announces Paul Molac, regional councilor for Brittany.
In addition to the region, around twenty local authorities (the towns of Donges, Guérande, Paimpol, Quimper, etc.) have already joined this “transpartisan” body. Municipalities of all sizes which have the common point of having already voted a wish in this direction, like the city of Nantes, the majority of which was however divided on the reunification of historic Brittany. “The question we ask is for or against democracy, there is a need for citizens that must be answered,” says Florian Le Teuff. The deputy mayor of Nantes in charge of Breton issues recalls that 105,000 signatories, or just over 10% of the electorate of Loire-Atlantique, had spoken out in favor of a “popular consultation” in 2018 relating to this sensitive issue which is struggling to move forward.
A bill soon studied?
According to the signatories, who say they are “united and totally determined”, other communities should join the process. The position of the Loire-Atlantique departmental council, which also voted for a referendum but did not wish to organize it itself, is particularly awaited.
In the coming months, the file could accelerate a little while the results of an impact study (on the question of mobility, services, economic consequences, etc.) on a possible attachment should be unveiled in 2024. Paul Molac, also deputy of Morbihan, also hopes to study at the beginning of June a Law proposition that he tabled, aimed at facilitating the organization of this consultation. Finally, the city of Nantes plans to organize a major debate on the subject, “so that citizens can express themselves in a serene and enlightened way”.