Poitou-Charentes to merge with Aquitaine?

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A real idea to help better organise regional governance, or an obvious attempt to undermine existing socialist politicians in advance of upcoming regional elections?

The controversial idea to merge the regions of Aquitaine and Poitou-Charentes has come from Domenique Bussereau, Transport Minister and President of general council of Charente-Maritime, and Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Senator of Vienne and former Prime Minister.  The two leading UMP politicians see a natural link between the two regions, and wrote recently that ‘The creation of a large South West entity would be based on the complimentary nature of the constituent parts.'

The proposal comes as part of a wider review of regional governance being headed-up by Edouard Balladur, which is looking to clarify responsibilities in local government with a view to potentially saving costs through reduced administration.  The commission does not rule-out merging departments and regions, at least at an electoral level.

Not surprisingly the proposal has been dismissed by the two socialist politicians who would be affected by any merger, and was described as ‘absurd' by Poitou-Charentes President Ségolène Royal, with her counterpart in Aquitaine Alain Rousset equally dismissive, labelling the idea ‘surreal.'  Neither were consulted about the idea, and Ségolène Royal added that ‘the regions are part of the richness of France' and that whilst regions should cooperate together, the idea of getting rid of them is ‘absurd.'

With just 16 months until regional elections, some see this as a deliberate attempt by the UMP to undermine the socialist leaders, with 20 of the 22 regions being held by socialists.

Meanwhile the emerging aircraft industry in Poitou-Charentes, highlighted by the success of the recent ‘Aerotop' event at Poitiers Biard Airport, would welcome such a move.  Representatives claim it would help them secure business from ‘Aerospace-Valley', the nickname that refers to major aerospace companies EADS and Airbus, who are based between Toulouse and Bordeaux.