Brittany is one step closer to reunification since the French National Assembly has passed an amendment that would allow to organise a referendum on the status of the department of Loire-Atlantique. This department, with its capital city in Nantes, belonged to Brittany from the Middle Ages till mid 20th century, when it was attached to the region of Pays de la Loire. Breton national movement has since claimed that Loire-Atlantique should be reunited with the rest of Brittany. Several opinion polls show popular support for such a move, both in Loire-Atlantique and the whole Brittany.

The amendment was introduced by several Breton MPs last December. It foresees that a department can be separated from one region and integrated into another one provided that one fifth of the members of the department's General Council and one tenth of electors ask so. A referendum can then be held, both in the department asking for the change and in the region to which the department wants to be attached. This means that Pays de la Loire could no longer stop Loire-Atlantique joining Brittany.

Now the issue must be voted in the Senate. According to Ouest-France, it is possible that some senators (specially the opposition Socialists, PS) want to amend the text that was passed by the National Assembly, where the conservative UMP holds a majority. If that happens, the political process will be longer and will be adjourned until the next term of office. France will hold presidential and legislative elections between April and June. Even if the Senate backed the move, the amendment could still be rejected by the Constitutional Court.

Breton parties strongly favour the move

All Breton parties have shown their hope that this time reunification will see the light of day. The Breton Democratic Union (UDB) has asked for the start of a "democratic process" that leads to the "return" of Loire-Atlantique into a "complete Brittany". The Movement Brittany and Progress (MBP) wants the candidates to the French presidency to "invite senators" to vote in favour of the amendment. Also the Breton Party sees the move as a "reasonable hope" towards reunification. Only the pro-independence Breizhistance show a high level of distrust: while acknowledging that the amendment has "the merit of raising the debate in democratic terms", the leftist party believes that it will not bring "the administrative unity of Brittany" since it is a part of the "electoral game of PS and UMP".