The European political group Regions and Solidarity Peoples (R&PS), which brings together the autonomist and regionalist parties of mainland France, held a press conference in Paris on Friday, April 24, focusing on the ongoing institutional developments in France.
A gap between public debate and opinion
R&PS immediately denounces a "Jacobin clamor" that, according to them, distorts the reality of public opinion. The movement relies on an IFOP survey from July 2025 to assert that a clear majority of French people support significant advancements:
77% in favor of the official recognition of regional languages
71% for a strengthening of regional powers
73% for the possibility of adapting laws to local realities
On concrete cases, the figures presented confirm this trend:
55% of French people (and 80% of Alsatians) support Alsace's exit from the Grand Est region
51% of French people (76% of Corsicans) support the autonomy of Corsica
One in two French people approves a specific status for the Basque Country (62% locally)
For R&PS, this data reflects a "democratic consensus" largely ignored in the national political debate.
Alsace: a reform deemed legitimate
The movement welcomes the vote of the National Assembly in favor of Alsace's exit from the Grand Est region. The latter is described as an artificial construction, contradicting the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
R&PS emphasizes that the Alsace region existed for nearly fifty years without undermining the unity of the Republic, rejecting alarmist arguments.
Corsica: the State facing its commitments
The Corsican issue is presented as imminent. R&PS reminds of the commitments made by the State, particularly during Emmanuel Macron's speech in Aiacciu in September 2023 and within the framework of the Beauvau agreements.
The constitutional bill expected in early June is seen as a decisive moment. The movement calls on parliamentarians to respect the will expressed by the Corsican population and not to yield to oppositions deemed "ultra-Jacobin."
Basque Country: a step taken, but insufficient
R&PS highlights the symbolic importance of the election of an abertzale president, Alain Iriart, at the head of the Basque Agglomeration Community.
While the creation of this intercommunal structure is seen as progress, it is still deemed insufficient. The movement advocates for an evolution towards a specific regional status, allowing for true institutional recognition.
A clear political line
Beyond specific cases, R&PS clearly poses the alternative: maintain a centralized organization inherited from the past or engage in a transformation towards a territorial democracy adapted to local realities. The movement explicitly calls on deputies and senators to "follow French opinion" and to support these developments.
Brittany: a silence that raises questions
Nothing about Brittany. The new movement launched by Paul Molac, "Faisons Bretagne," is not even mentioned in the statement. Contacted by us, Regions and Peoples Solidaires did not respond to our inquiries on this point, even though they sent us photos and the statement.
This silence raises questions, especially since Brittany has historically been one of the pillars of the regionalist movement and several of its demands—recognition of the language, adaptation of public policies, institutional evolution—fully align with the orientations defended by R&PS.
Should we see this as a strategic choice, favoring issues deemed more advanced like Corsica or Alsace? Or a persistent difficulty in bringing the Breton question to the forefront of national and European debate? At this stage, in the absence of an official response, the question remains open.
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