The Regional Council of Brittany yesterday approved the Future Pact that the French Government -in the hands of the Socialist Party (PS)- had proposed after last month's two landmark demonstrations of the 'red caps' or bonnets rouges. As expected, the Future Pact got the support of 46 Socialist and Communist councilors, while the opposition issued 36 votes against, including the Greens, the French conservatives and pro-autonomy Breton Democratic Union (UDB).

The Pact, as proposed by the French Government, includes budget lines worth 2 billion euros, which will be used to help workers and businesses in difficulty, to support and promote food and agricultural sectors, and also to foster higher education.

But the agreement is far from what the Live, Work and Decide in Brittany group was asking for. This group organized last month's demonstrations that gathered tens of thousands in Quimper and in Carhaix, in demand for free roads, protection for the local workforce and means and tools to meet" Brittany's needs.

One of the movement leaders, Christian Troadec, has described the Future Pact as a "Parisian project imposed on Brittany". Troadec -Carhaix Mayor and founder of the Movement Brittany and Progress party- believes that the French Government has not listened to the protesters' requests, and points out that Paris should seize the opportunity to start a decentralization process of the French Republic from Brittany.

Also the UDB holds that the Future Pact is not enough. Autonomist party Spokeswoman Mona Bras said that measures should have included "strengthening the Region's powers to act, and regulatory and financial resources", something that Bras considers that has not happened.

Similarly, the Breton Party and Breizhistance find that the Pact does not meet challenges in today's Brittany.

French Prime Minister gives prospects for decentralization

But the French Government has refused to close the door to new future developments towards greater decentralization. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in an interview to Le Télégramme that a new law on the French regions will be discussed next spring, and that it could open the door to "reinforce their powers". Ayrault acknowledged that Bretons "want more responsibilities" and that he has been knowing that "for years".