"Rethinking the territorial organization of the country": the French want more power for the Regions

Even though the leaders of Regions & Peoples in Solidarity (RPS) were firmly convinced that their demands went beyond the circle of regionalist activists, the survey ⁽¹⁾ carried out in July by Ifop confirms this. And in what way!

Thus, in his analysis, François Kraus, director of the Politics/News division at Ifop, declares: "Far from being a marginal or folkloric phenomenon, French regionalism is asserting itself as a majority dynamic encouraging a rethinking of the territorial organization of the country."

For its thirtieth anniversary, RPS couldn't have dreamed of a better gift. Its director, Toulon native Pèire Costa, is thrilled. "This survey is an X-ray of regionalism. We wanted to know how our main demands were perceived by the French. And this study legitimizes the demands our candidates have long advocated." This survey will be unveiled in detail today, at the opening of the party's summer university in Haute-Corse.

Among the historical demands of RPS, the aspiration for more decentralization, more territorial democracy, more autonomy thus seems to be shared today by a majority of French people. According to the Ifop poll, "68% of French people believe that local authorities do not have enough power compared to the State" and "71% of French people support the possibility of Regions adapting national laws to take into account local realities."

More and more attached to his region

Perhaps more surprising is the support given by the entire country to the defense and teaching of regional languages ​​and cultures. "77% of French people support the official recognition of regional languages" and "84% of citizens support the teaching of regional history as a complement to national history." These results go hand in hand with the growth of regional attachment among the French.

Thus, "27% of French people feel primarily attached to their region, compared to 23% in 2011 and 2001." Which leads François Kraus to say: "This X-ray of French regionalism also reveals the emergence of alternative territorial identities that question the traditional Jacobin model without calling into question national belonging."

For Regions & Peoples in Solidarity, this survey is in any case timely as negotiations are set to intensify in preparation for the next municipal elections.

1. This Ifop study was conducted on a representative national sample of 2,000 French people and 7 specific territorial samples (Alsace, Brittany, Catalonia, Corsica, Occitan area, Basque Country and Savoie).