/image%2F0893414%2F20140115%2Fob_27fd6a_communique-jpg)
The Partit de la Nacion Occitana and the regional elections of 6th December, 2015
On 6th December 2015, the first round of French regional elections will take place. The new regions are the result of territorial reform reducing the number of « metropolitan » regions of the French republic from 22 to 13.
The Partit de la Nacion Occitana reasserts that this reform was carried out in a technocratic manner without consulting the populations of the territories concerned.
The Occitan territory has been divided into four metropolitan regions : three of them with an Occitan majority :
Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou Charentes / Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées /
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
and one with a strong Occitan minority : Auvergne- Rhône Alpes (of which Drôme and Ardèche).
Upon examination of the platforms of the various lists officially registered on the Occitan territory, the Partit de la Nacion Occitana notices that Occitan identity has been more or less taken into account in a diffuse way.
In Aquitaine Limousin Poitou Charente :
Europe-Ecologie-Les Verts (left-wing environmentalists) intends « to promote and defend our cultural heritage and regional languages » with the presence of a few Occitan activists (although in a non eligible position), and Basque activists.
The right-wing and right-of-centre list proposes to « support access to regional languages »
The list of the Socialist Party and the Radical Party of the Left, led by Alain Rousset, has translated its slogan « stronger, more supportive together » into Basque and Occitan.
Marie Bové’s list « Let’s act together », made up of dissident members of EELV, fields three Occitan activists, among whom David Grosclaude, outgoing regional councillor, head of the list in the department of Pyrénées atlantiques. It has made the following commitment : « For our languages : in our region Occitan as well as Basque are spoken. Language policy will be strengthened and will become part of other policies »
In Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon
The list led by Gérard Onesta of EELV, the Left Front and the Partit Occitan calls the new region « Occitania, Catalonia : our region » and puts forward interesting measures for Occitan and Catalan. Patric Roux of the Partit Occitan is in an eligible position in the department of Aude whereas other POC activists are in a non eligible position, among whom Guilhèm Latrubesse, outgoing regional councillor.
The list of the Socialist Party and the Radical Party of the Left led by Carole Delga declares its support for the teaching of Occitan and Catalan.
The list of Christophe Cavard, the « Common Good» composed of environmentalists, of eight members of the Partit de la Nacion Occitana, among whom Jeròni Piques, head of the list in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne, and of members of civil society has the support of the Partit de la Nacion Occitana. Its recognition of Occitan identity is sincere.
The list « Citizens of the South» led by Montpellier’s mayor, Philippe Saurel, fields a few Occitan activists, Martine Gros and Patricia Rosenthal.
The right-wing and right-of-centre list of Dominique Reynié favours the valorisation of Occitan and Catalan.
In Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
The list of the Socialist Party led by Christophe Castaner has three Occitan activists of the Partit Occitan, once an ally of EELV in this region. The outgoing regional councillors of the Partit Occitan are in a non eligible position.
The right-wing and right-of-centre list led by the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has had a meeting with the « Collectif Provence » whose key issue is the fight against Occitan activists.
In Auvergne, Drôme-Ardèche with Rhône Alpes.
Talks between Gustave Alirol, of the Partit Occitan, outgoing regional councillor, and EELV have failed. None of the lists there has Occitan activists or makes any proposals whatsoever for Occitan culture in Auvergne and in Drôme-Ardèche or Occitan Dauphiné.
None of the lists mentioned, whatever the region, has stated that it supports real decision-making and financial powers for autonomous Occitan regions. Besides, no link is established between the concerns of the Occitan population and Occitan identity or the loss of it and its replacement by an ultra-chauvinist French identity.
Consequently, the Partit de la Nacion Occitana, with the exception of the Midi-Pyrénées-Languedoc-Roussillon region where it clearly urges citizens to vote for the « Common Good » list of Christophe Cavard, leaves Occitan voters free to decide whether they will cast a ballot, return a blank ballot paper or abstain.
In Brittany, the Partit de la Nacion Occitana supports « Independence is a chance for us », in Alsace, it supports the list of « Unser Land », an Alsatian autonomist movement and in Corsica the nationalist and independence forces that field candidates for the regional elections.
http://lo.lugarn-pno.over-blog.org/
10 carrèra de Romàs
47000 Agen
06 76 47 32 12
2nd December, 2015
Regional elections of 6th December, 2015.