The Gwenn Ha Du hoisted in the main courtyard of the Town hall.

Without wind, the symbol is less spectacular.

-

F. Brenon / 20Minutes

  • The Breton flag was not present on the town hall of Nantes before December 17, 2020.

  • His installation was a recent electoral commitment by the mayor of Nantes.

  • Johanna Rolland now promises to propose a wish to the city council in favor of a referendum on the attachment of Loire-Atlantique to Brittany.

History will remember that it was hoisted at 11:20 am, accompanied by an air of bombarde and biniou, but that it could not float for lack of wind.

The Gwenn Ha Du, the famous Breton flag, was installed for the first time in the courtyard of Nantes city hall on Thursday.

A purely symbolic gesture but awaited for many years by supporters of the reunification of Brittany and, more broadly, by lovers of Breton culture.

Among the hundred people who attended the event, some did not hide their emotion.

“It's a strong moment!

The result of a long struggle.

I didn't want to miss it.

I think it will make things happen with other municipalities to move towards reunification, ”says Yves, member of the association Bretagne Reunited.

“It's superb, confirms Armel, at his side.

The population must now reclaim this culture.

Having strong roots in the era of globalization makes sense.

Joannic Martin, spokesperson for the Breton Party, notes that Brittany "is indeed a reality in Nantes".

“This identity has been denied for years by politicians,” he laments.

This flag is therefore the beginning of repair.

"

The Gwen ha du hoisted to the town hall of #Nantes for the first time this Thursday.

Emotion among the supporters of the reunification of Brittany.

pic.twitter.com/5o34zEejD1

- 20 Minutes Nantes (@ 20minutesnantes) December 17, 2020

A request in 2021 for a decision-making referendum

The installation of the Gwenn Ha Du was a recent electoral engagement by Johanna Rolland (PS).

The mayor of Nantes, who considers that this flag expresses “values ​​of openness and exchanges”, announced on Thursday that this symbol was an “invitation to go further to bring the Breton language and culture to life”.

“We still have a lot to do,” she promises.

She cites support for bilingual sectors at school, the deployment of new translated street signs, enhanced cooperation with Breton communities ... But, above all, Johanna Rolland undertakes to present a wish to the municipal council in 2021 asking the city council to 'State "the organization of a decision-making referendum" on the attachment of Loire-Atlantique to Brittany.

“I am deeply attached to the expression of citizens.

There was an important petition.

It must find a democratic response ”, she justifies, referring to the petition of 100,000 handwritten signatures collected at the end of 2018 by the association Brittany reunited.

“Hoisting the flag is therefore only the first step!

Denis rejoices in front of the town hall, a sticker 44 = BZH on the jacket.

This referendum will take place, I believe in it.

Nantes is a city that weighs all the same.

"

"That does not justify going to break the Pays-de-la-Loire region"

Asked Monday, the president of the Pays-de-la-Loire region, Christelle Mor Anglais (LR), commented on the installation of Gwenn Ha Du in Nantes with kindness, without however considering a possible departure from the Loire-Atlantique to the region. Brittany.

“Loire-Atlantique cannot dismiss its history out of hand.

There is a Breton culture, it is important.

But that does not justify going to break the administrative region Pays-de-la-Loire which works very well.

"

Historically located in Brittany, the Loire-Atlantique department was integrated into the new Pays-de-la-Loire region in a 1956 decree. This choice has since always been contested.

Still, this timeless and divisive debate does not fascinate all Nantes residents.

Consulted via social networks, several readers of

20 Minutes

confided that it made them "neither hot nor cold".

“It's not going to change the world,” Patricia quipped.

Nantes

Nantes: Supporters of the reunification of Brittany put pressure in front of the town hall

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Brittany: Supporters of reunification want a referendum, and quickly

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