"Occitania" receives the most votes in region's name non-binding referendum

Final decision to be taken by French Council of State · "Languedoc-Pyrénées" could be picked instead

16.06.201617.15h

The map of the region, which merges the former Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions.

"Occitania" is the name having received the most votes in a non-binding referendum to choose the name of the central Occitan region resulting from the merger of the former Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions. The vote could become a landmark choice as for the first time ever, a region of the French Republic would bear the name of "Occitania". Even though, the French Council of State will have the final say on the issue. Furthermore, it is not even clear that the Regional Council supports "Occitania".

Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées citizens were able to vote on the name issue until June 10.

"Occitania" received 44.9% of first choice votes, way ahead of the other options. Second placed was "Languedoc-Pyrénées", with 17.8% of the votes. "Pyrénées-Mediterranean" (15.3%), "Occitania-Catalan Country" (12.1%) and "Languedoc" (10%) came in third, fourth and fifth places.

Voters were also asked to state what their second, third, fourth and fifth choices were. The picture thus becomes more blurred, since "Languedoc-Pyrénées" received the most votes as second and third choices.

203,999 people took part in the non-binding referendum -164,826 of them via internet, and 39,167 on paper ballots.

Final choice not to depend on citizens' votes

Regional councillors will have to vote on June 24 on their own proposal for the region's new name. In theory, elected representatives must take into account the outcome of the popular vote, but they are not required to choose the same same name that voters supported as their first choice.

This means that councilors could go for "Languedoc-Pyrénées" instead of "Occitania" if they believe the former builds more consensus than the latter.

The name chosen by the Regional Council will then be put into the Council of State's consideration, which will make a final decision before October 1.