The question has the merit of being clear. It is now officially asked to Alsatians. Until February 15, 2022, the inhabitants of the territory or any adult having “an attachment” are invited to say whether, yes or not, Alsace must leave the Grand-Est. The European Collectivity of Alsace (CEA) launched a citizen consultation on the subject on Tuesday,
via a dedicated platform.
You might as well write it down right away: whatever the outcome, the initiative will not have “legal significance”. Understand: if the yes wins, it will still be necessary for the law to be amended to return powers to Alsace alone, as was the case before 2016 and the merger with the Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne regions in the framework of the law Our.
The Great East “without natural reality”
Frédéric Bierry, President of the ECA, concedes: “The consultation has above all a political significance. After that, it is only a question of political will at the national level. If the Alsatians make a massive choice of yes, I cannot understand that the presidential candidates do not seize it. “
A clear supporter of yes, the elected representative wishes to draw inspiration from the “Swiss voting” model so that “our fellow citizens can find real influence on public action”. At the initiative of the consultation, Frédéric Bierry relies on the testimonies collected during his “tour of Alsace in 80 days”. According to him, “the Grand-Est always appears to Alsatians as a forced marriage, without natural reality. “
“Meaning from 100,000 voters”
In order to give a basis to the result of the consultation, Frédéric Bierry hopes for the strongest possible participation: “The consultation will make sense from 100,000 voters. However, there is no question for him to campaign, except for the consultation itself. “I want everyone to be able to express themselves. If the no wins, I will remain in the service of the Alsatians and I will close the chapter. And if the yes wins the majority of votes? The president of the ECA wants to be very clear here too: “We are determined to lead the fight to the end. With the CEA, we did the hard part. There, a law will suffice to transfer the powers of the Grand-Est region to the European Collectivity of Alsace. “
Even if it means passing for a lumberjack from the Bruche valley, where he comes from: “In our region, we say that we are saws and that by dint of sawing, it ends up giving way! (to smile) ”With saws, he hopes to bottle Paris. Or at least the future tenant of the Elysee in his pocket.