Le Mouvement Normand

"Mouvement normand" (Norman Movement) is a political organisation in France that campaigns for autonomy of Normandy. Unlike many regionalist groupings in France, it rejects "separatism" and underlines the view that people of Normandy are one of the constituent nationalities that made up the French nation. They also see the people of Normandy as direct inheritors of authentic Normans and also the results of their overseas exploits.

History

The "Mouvement normand" has its origins in the far-right French movement of 1960s. In 1969, Rouen branch of the right-wing students' union "Fédération nationale des étudiants de France" merged with "l'Union pour la Région Normande" in Lisieux to form "Mouvement de la Jeunesse de Normandie", renamed Mouvement normand in 1971. It is led by prominent right-wing activist Didier Patte, who is also a member of "Groupement de recherche et d'études sur la culture européenne (GRECE, the Research and Study Group on European Culture).

The "Mouvement normand" had always recruited its supporters from the French far-right, especially Front National. However, in recent years, there is a significant attraction for the members of centre-right parties such as Union for French Democracy (UDF). The "Mouvement normand's" regionalist agenda draws more attention everyday in the political life of Normandy.

Major goals

* Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie should be unified to found a single "région" of "Normandie".
* The regional government of Normandy should be provided with more authority.
* The "unique" cultural character of Normandy, formed with elements from the Anglo-Norman culture as well as Gallic culture should be recognised and preserved.

External links

* [http://www.mouvement-normand.com/ Official site of "Mouvement normand"] (in French)