A PRO-AUTONOMY magazine in Brittany saw racist abuse flood into its social media mentions after publishing a cover with a smiling child earlier this month.
In our latest episode of Our Friends In Europe, hosted by Assa Samake-Roman, we are joined by the editor of Le Peuple Breton (The Breton People), Gael Briand, as he explains the importance of the front page.
The duo also dig into questions around civic nationalism, what defines a nation, the importance of the EU and how pro-autonomy and pro-independence parties in Brittany draw inspiration from Scotland and the SNP.
CLICK HERE OR HIT PLAY BELOW TO LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S EPISODE
The magazine, founded 60 years ago by pro-autonomy activists in Brittany, featured on its cover a smiling black child in traditional Breton attire waving a Breton flag.
National coverage soon followed over the racist abuse that this was met with – but the headline, “Un people vivant”, “A living people”, made a crucial point.
Briand tells us: “Living people – in France, ‘Le Peuple Breton’ doesn’t exist in an official way. The title of the newspaper is a sort of provocation for the state.
Nous fêtons ce mois-ci nos 60 bougies ! Toute l'année 2024 (que nous vous souhaitons excellente !) reviendra sur l'histoire du Peuple breton. Bloavezh mat d'an holl hag un ti dilogod.
— Le Peuple breton Magazine (@Peuplebreton) January 2, 2024
Commander le numéro : https://t.co/5aRmRI3zkK
S'abonner : https://t.co/XqijKq6Siw pic.twitter.com/lE6m4P1z5T
“Our culture is still alive and I wanted to say that our people are living and speaking and writing. So it was a simple title.”
Briand is a member of the Breton Democratic Union – a party championing devolution for Brittany and promotion of its languages and culture. He is also elected to the regional council of Brittany.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO LAST WEEK'S EPISODE WITH TERRY REINTKE
The pro-autonomy movement in Brittany has close ties to Wales, including Plaid Cymru, but looks to the SNP too when it comes to civic nationalism.
“The SNP have succeeded in bringing the message to the people to say, okay, we are Scottish, but we’re working for the people," Briand explains.
“It’s what we want to do too.”
Join us every month with episodes here on the website and Spotify as we chat with Our Friends in Europe.
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