Union Démocratique Bretonne
Encyclopedia
The Breton Democratic Union is the main autonomist
and regionalist party in Brittany (Bretagne administrée) and Loire-Atlantique
. It advocates devolution
for Brittany as well as the promotion of the Breton language
and its associated culture.
The Breton Democratic Union held three seats on the Regional Council of Brittany since March 2004. A fourth seat was held by Christian Troadec, mayor of Carhaix who, albeit not member of the organization was considered close to it. He chose, however, to leave the regional majority the 18th of December 2008 over the hospital of Carhaix question.
The party is allied with The Greens
and is a member of the European Free Alliance
.
In March 2010, via their electoral alliance, Europe Ecologie Bretagne (EEB), the UDB has won 4 seats on the council of the French administrative region of Brittany. The French Socialist Party (FSP) refused to fuse with EEB to fight the second round of the election -the result being the UDB will not be represented in government- but 4 councillors is still an achievement.
by a group of about fifteen young people, most of them students, often from cultural organizations (Ar Falz, Bagadou, etc) and influenced by socialist ideas.
The majority belonged to the MOB organization which also included former militants of Breton Nationalist Party
and supporters of French Algeria
, which was a cause of tensions.
The first congress of the UDB took place in December 1964 in Quimper, with a mere 18 participants.
The UDB was founded in opposition to the practice of torture in Algeria
and compared the decolonization of the Maghreb
to Brittany.
The structure of the new party was then close to that of those of the far-left with a strict internal discipline. Its charter, elaborated in 1964 supported a planned economy and the creation of an European Federation. It claimed to be hostile to militarism and colonialism, which was an innovation in the Breton movement at the time.
The creation of the UDB marked a rupture in the history of the Breton nationalist movement
which, until then, was rather right-wing.
It took part in the 1965 local elections
. Jean-Paul Berre was elected on a list of the Union of the left dominated by the PCF
in Guilvinec
and becomes deputy-mayor and first elected official of the UDB.
and FGDS
. After 1967, however, recruitment intensified, in particular in student unions.
In the 1969 constitutional referendum
, the UDB called for a "no" vote, like most of the left.
The conflict led to the exclusion of Jean-Yves Guiomar and Alain Guyader in 1970 for "rejection of democratic centralism, constant undervaluation of the adversary, impatience and the theory of active minorities, and the idolization of spontaneity".
and adopted democratic centralism. It also adopted a Marxist line and demanded in a modified version of its charter the abolition of capitalism
and the collective appropriation of the means of production. At the same time, a UDB list won 11.5% of the votes in a local by-election in Auray
, primarily thanks to the personality of its candidate Sten Kidna. In the 1971 local elections
the UDB took part in the lists of the Union of the Left, except in Brest where it polled 4.8% running independently.
The number of party members – 243 in 1971 – grew throughout the 1970s, thanks to the involvement of the party in social conflicts.
During the 1973 general election
, the UDB nominated 5 candidates who obtained from 0.8% to 3.2% in spite of a large showing by other left-wing parties. The most successful candidate, Erwan Evenou, won more than 3% in the Hennebont
constituency.
During the cantonal election held that same year, it won 4.45% of the votes – 6.7% in Lorient. In the 1974 presidential election
it campaigned in the second round for François Mitterrand
.
In the 1976 cantonal elections
the UDB ran 9 candidates who won 5.27% on average. The local elections of 1977 enabled it to get 35 seats on the lists of the Union of the Left. In the 1978 general election
, the party ran 17 candidates in a strongly polarized environment.
, these were marked by very low voter turnout.
The victory of the left in 1981, paradoxically, increased the UDB's loss of momentum. Although policies in line with UDB positions were passed (such as decentralization, the cancelling of the Plogoff
nuclear plant and the abolition of the death penalty), the UDB could claim little responsibility for them compared to the then-triumphant PS
, and its usefulness seemed questionable.
In 1984, during the congress of Lorient
, one of the Léon sections, whose motion had won a third of the votes, created a splinter group, Frankiz Breizh, based primarily in Brest
and in its immediate surroundings.
which then united about fifteen Europe
an regionalist parties of the centre-left. Despite considerable financial problems, it ran about thirty candidates in the 1985 cantonal elections
and won on average 4.2%. Results in the Brest area, however, had considerably declined.
The 1986 regional elections
, characterized by a strong bipolarisation, were a failure for the party which won only 1.51%. During this time, the contacts with the Plaid Cymru
became regular and in 1987 the UDB joined the European Free Alliance
.
In the 1988 presidential election
, the UDB supported the former Communist
Pierre Juquin
in the first round and François Mitterrand
in the runoff.
In 1992, following the failure of the negotiations with the Greens, the UDB presented its own list along with Emgann
(which would eventually withdraw because of a nomination problem). The results were disappointing (2%) and strengthened the mistrust of the UDB towards alliances with the other nationalist groups.
The congress of Saint-Brieuc
, in 1994, was an occasion for reconciliation with Frankiz Breizh whose political positions had never differed much from those of the UDB. The two organizations took part in November of the same year in the creation of the Fédération Régions et Peuples Solidaires
with the Partit Occitan
, the Partitu di a Nazione Corsa
and Eusko Alkartasuna
.
In the 2001 local elections
it chose to take part in lists of the united left except in Guingamp
, Redon, Lannion
and Saint-Nazaire
. Their results varied between 6.02% in Saint-Nazaire and 13.7% in Guingamp. The UDB remained in the second round in Sarzeau
and Guingamp
. Moreover the party participated in the victorious list of Christian Troadec in Carhaix.
This success encouraged the UDB to consider an autonomous list in the 2004 regional elections
. It finally resolved to open negotiations with The Greens
. The UDB was in a strong position. A separate regionalist list could have won between 3 and 5%, thus cutting into the vote share of the ecologists and condemning their efforts to assert their independence from the PS
.
The elections themselves were a success for The Greens
-UDB list, which won nearly 10%. The UDB won three seats and a vice-presidency.
The French European Constitution referendum, 2005 caused several well-known members of the UDB to call for a "no" vote, against the official position of the party which called for a vote in favour of the proposed constitution.
During the 2007 presidential election
, the UDB supported Green
candidate Dominique Voynet
.
In the 2009 European Parliament election
, the party supported the Europe Écologie
coalition, which includes The Greens
.
Autonomism
Autonomism refers to a set of left-wing political and social movements and theories close to the socialist movement. As an identifiable theoretical system it first emerged in Italy in the 1960s from workerist communism...
and regionalist party in Brittany (Bretagne administrée) and Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique is a department on the west coast of France named after the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean.-History:...
. It advocates devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
for Brittany as well as the promotion of the Breton language
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
and its associated culture.
The Breton Democratic Union held three seats on the Regional Council of Brittany since March 2004. A fourth seat was held by Christian Troadec, mayor of Carhaix who, albeit not member of the organization was considered close to it. He chose, however, to leave the regional majority the 18th of December 2008 over the hospital of Carhaix question.
The party is allied with The Greens
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
and is a member of the European Free Alliance
European Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
.
In March 2010, via their electoral alliance, Europe Ecologie Bretagne (EEB), the UDB has won 4 seats on the council of the French administrative region of Brittany. The French Socialist Party (FSP) refused to fuse with EEB to fight the second round of the election -the result being the UDB will not be represented in government- but 4 councillors is still an achievement.
Foundation
The UDB was founded in 1964 in RennesRennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
by a group of about fifteen young people, most of them students, often from cultural organizations (Ar Falz, Bagadou, etc) and influenced by socialist ideas.
The majority belonged to the MOB organization which also included former militants of Breton Nationalist Party
Breton Nationalist Party
The Breton Nationalist Party was a French political party that advocated independence for Brittany. It existed from 1911 to 1914.-Origins:...
and supporters of French Algeria
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
, which was a cause of tensions.
The first congress of the UDB took place in December 1964 in Quimper, with a mere 18 participants.
The UDB was founded in opposition to the practice of torture in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and compared the decolonization of the Maghreb
Maghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
to Brittany.
The structure of the new party was then close to that of those of the far-left with a strict internal discipline. Its charter, elaborated in 1964 supported a planned economy and the creation of an European Federation. It claimed to be hostile to militarism and colonialism, which was an innovation in the Breton movement at the time.
The creation of the UDB marked a rupture in the history of the Breton nationalist movement
Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism is the nationalism of the traditional province of Brittany in France. Brittany is considered to be one of the six Celtic nations...
which, until then, was rather right-wing.
It took part in the 1965 local elections
French municipal elections, 1965
Municipal elections were held in France on 14 and 21 March 1965. Like in 1959, the UDR realized deceiving results . The Communists gained, but they also came out of their isolation and started co-operating with other parties of the parliamentary left.-Sources:*...
. Jean-Paul Berre was elected on a list of the Union of the left dominated by the PCF
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
in Guilvinec
Guilvinec
Guilvinec or Le Guilvinec is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guilvinec are called in FrenchGuilvinistes.-Breton language:...
and becomes deputy-mayor and first elected official of the UDB.
Beginnings : 1966-1969
The first years were difficult. The party grew slowly and had little resources. It approached the other left-wing parties, in particular the PSUUnified Socialist Party (France)
The Unified Socialist Party was a socialist political party in France, founded on April 3, 1960. It was originally led by Édouard Depreux , and by Michel Rocard .- History :...
and FGDS
Federation of the Democratic and Socialist Left
The Federation of the Democratic and Socialist Left was a conglomerate of French left-wing non-Communist forces. It was founded to support François Mitterrand's candidature at the 1965 presidential election and to couter-balance the Communist preponderance over the French left...
. After 1967, however, recruitment intensified, in particular in student unions.
In the 1969 constitutional referendum
French constitutional referendum, 1969
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 27 April 1969. The reforms would have led to government decentralization and changes to the Senate...
, the UDB called for a "no" vote, like most of the left.
The crisis of 1969-1970
Internal contradictions with the party exploded during the 1969 congress when Alain Guyader challenged the charter of the UDB and proposed a line inspired by Rosa Luxembourg’s ideas. Moreover he refused to condemn the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, one year before.The conflict led to the exclusion of Jean-Yves Guiomar and Alain Guyader in 1970 for "rejection of democratic centralism, constant undervaluation of the adversary, impatience and the theory of active minorities, and the idolization of spontaneity".
The success : 1970-1978
The party was rebuilt during the congress of GuidelGuidel
Guidel is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-Cemetery:The communal cemetery, containing 108 tombs from the World War II, has been listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission...
and adopted democratic centralism. It also adopted a Marxist line and demanded in a modified version of its charter the abolition of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and the collective appropriation of the means of production. At the same time, a UDB list won 11.5% of the votes in a local by-election in Auray
Auray
Auray is a commune located in the Morbihan department of Brittany in France. Inhabitants of Auray are called Alréens.-Geography:The city is surrounded by the communes of Crac'h to the south and west, Brech to the north and Pluneret to the east. It is crossed by the Loch, a small coastal river...
, primarily thanks to the personality of its candidate Sten Kidna. In the 1971 local elections
French municipal elections, 1971
Municipal elections were held in France on 14 and 21 March 1971. Georges Pompidou had been in power since 1969 by 1971. The UDR gained in the radical south-west while the French Communist Party gained in the north and east...
the UDB took part in the lists of the Union of the Left, except in Brest where it polled 4.8% running independently.
The number of party members – 243 in 1971 – grew throughout the 1970s, thanks to the involvement of the party in social conflicts.
During the 1973 general election
French legislative election, 1973
French legislative elections took place on 4 and 11 March 1973 to elect the 5th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic.In order to end the May 1968 crisis, President Charles de Gaulle dissolved the National Assembly and his party, the Gaullist Party Union of Democrats for the Republic , obtained...
, the UDB nominated 5 candidates who obtained from 0.8% to 3.2% in spite of a large showing by other left-wing parties. The most successful candidate, Erwan Evenou, won more than 3% in the Hennebont
Hennebont
Hennebont is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Hennebont is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the River Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on...
constituency.
During the cantonal election held that same year, it won 4.45% of the votes – 6.7% in Lorient. In the 1974 presidential election
French presidential election, 1974
Presidential elections were held in :France in 1974, following the death of President Georges Pompidou. They went to a second round, and were won by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing by a margin of 1.6%...
it campaigned in the second round for François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
.
In the 1976 cantonal elections
French cantonal elections, 1976
Cantonale elections to renew canton general councillors were held in France on 7 and 14 March 1976. The left won a convincing victory, the PS gained 194 seats and the PCF 75. 15 presidencies also swung to the left.-Electoral system:...
the UDB ran 9 candidates who won 5.27% on average. The local elections of 1977 enabled it to get 35 seats on the lists of the Union of the Left. In the 1978 general election
French legislative election, 1978
The French legislative elections took place on 12 March and 19 March 1978 to elect the 6th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic.On 2 April 1974 President Georges Pompidou died. The non-Gaullist center-right leader Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was elected to succeed him...
, the party ran 17 candidates in a strongly polarized environment.
The crisis of 1978-1984
Party growth slowed down due to the failure of the legislative elections and the collapse of the United Left, in which the UDB was firmly anchored. While the party scored encouraging results (5.63%) in the 1979 cantonal electionsFrench cantonal elections, 1979
Cantonale elections to renew canton general councillors were held in France on 18 and 15 March 1979. The left gained 9 presidencies but lost 2.-Electoral system:The cantonales elections use the same system as the regional or legislative elections...
, these were marked by very low voter turnout.
The victory of the left in 1981, paradoxically, increased the UDB's loss of momentum. Although policies in line with UDB positions were passed (such as decentralization, the cancelling of the Plogoff
Plogoff
Plogoff is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.It contains three small ports suitable for very small vessels: Pors-Loubous, Feunten-Aod and Bestrée...
nuclear plant and the abolition of the death penalty), the UDB could claim little responsibility for them compared to the then-triumphant PS
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
, and its usefulness seemed questionable.
In 1984, during the congress of Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
, one of the Léon sections, whose motion had won a third of the votes, created a splinter group, Frankiz Breizh, based primarily in Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
and in its immediate surroundings.
Crisis of 1984 to 2001
After the departure of the Brest militants, the party was rebuilt and approached the European Free AllianceEuropean Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
which then united about fifteen Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an regionalist parties of the centre-left. Despite considerable financial problems, it ran about thirty candidates in the 1985 cantonal elections
French cantonal elections, 1985
Cantonale elections to renew canton general councillors were held in France on 10 and 17 March 1985. The left, in power since 1981, lost 10 departments. As a result, the right controlled 69 out of 95 departments.-Electoral system:...
and won on average 4.2%. Results in the Brest area, however, had considerably declined.
The 1986 regional elections
French regional elections, 1986
Regional elections were held in France on 16 March 1986. At stake were the presidencies of each of France's 26 régions, which, though they don't have legislative autonomy, manage sizeable budgets. The parliamentary right, led by the conservative Rally for the Republic and the centre-right Union for...
, characterized by a strong bipolarisation, were a failure for the party which won only 1.51%. During this time, the contacts with the Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
became regular and in 1987 the UDB joined the European Free Alliance
European Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
.
In the 1988 presidential election
French presidential election, 1988
Presidential elections were held in France on 24 April and 8 May 1988.In 1981, the Socialist Party leader, François Mitterrand, was elected President of France and the Left won the legislative election. However, in 1986, the Right regained a parliamentary majority. President Mitterrand was forced...
, the UDB supported the former Communist
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
Pierre Juquin
Pierre Juquin
Pierre Juquin is a French communist politician and trade unionist.-Early life and PCF politics:...
in the first round and François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
in the runoff.
In 1992, following the failure of the negotiations with the Greens, the UDB presented its own list along with Emgann
Emgann
Emgann is a left wing Breton nationalist movement in Brittany, France. Founded in 1982, it soon became one of the principal groups agitating for Breton independence...
(which would eventually withdraw because of a nomination problem). The results were disappointing (2%) and strengthened the mistrust of the UDB towards alliances with the other nationalist groups.
The congress of Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-History:Saint-Brieuc is named after a Welsh monk Brioc, who evangelized the region in the 6th century and established an oratory there...
, in 1994, was an occasion for reconciliation with Frankiz Breizh whose political positions had never differed much from those of the UDB. The two organizations took part in November of the same year in the creation of the Fédération Régions et Peuples Solidaires
Fédération Régions et Peuples Solidaires
Fédération Régions et Peuples Solidaires is a political federation of various regionalist parties in France. It was founded in 1995, in order to organise a coordinated combat against "Parisian centrism" and "Jacobin conception of peoples" on the French state level...
with the Partit Occitan
Partit Occitan
The Occitan Party is a political party in France. Its aims include greater autonomy for the Occitania region of southern France. The Occitan Party was formed in Toulouse in 1987 through the union of different occitanist movements , of candidates to the 1986 regional elections a d of various...
, the Partitu di a Nazione Corsa
Partitu di a Nazione Corsa
The Party of the Corsican Nation is a political party seeking autonomy for Corsica. It was founded in Corte in 2002 by members of three nationalist parties, Union of the Corsican People , A Scelta Nova and A Mossa Naziunale....
and Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...
.
From 2001 to today
After 2001, the party experienced notable membership growth as well as an improvement in its electoral results.In the 2001 local elections
French municipal elections, 2001
Municipal elections were held in France on 11 and 18 March 2001. These elections were marked by a setback for the left and a victory for the right one year before the 2002 presidential election...
it chose to take part in lists of the united left except in Guingamp
Guingamp
Guingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:...
, Redon, Lannion
Lannion
Lannion is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is a subpréfecture of Côtes-d'Armor, the capital of Trégor and the center of an urban area of almost 60,000 inhabitants.-Population:...
and Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire , is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.The town has a major harbour, on the right bank of the Loire River estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean. The town is at the south of the second-largest swamp in France, called "la Brière"...
. Their results varied between 6.02% in Saint-Nazaire and 13.7% in Guingamp. The UDB remained in the second round in Sarzeau
Sarzeau
Sarzeau is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.It is located on the Rhuys peninsula between the Gulf of Morbihan and the Atlantic Ocean.-History:...
and Guingamp
Guingamp
Guingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:...
. Moreover the party participated in the victorious list of Christian Troadec in Carhaix.
This success encouraged the UDB to consider an autonomous list in the 2004 regional elections
French regional elections, 2004
Regional elections in were held in France on 21 and 28 March 2004. At stake were the presidencies of each of France's 26 regions which, although they do not have legislative powers, manage sizeable budgets...
. It finally resolved to open negotiations with The Greens
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
. The UDB was in a strong position. A separate regionalist list could have won between 3 and 5%, thus cutting into the vote share of the ecologists and condemning their efforts to assert their independence from the PS
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
.
The elections themselves were a success for The Greens
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
-UDB list, which won nearly 10%. The UDB won three seats and a vice-presidency.
The French European Constitution referendum, 2005 caused several well-known members of the UDB to call for a "no" vote, against the official position of the party which called for a vote in favour of the proposed constitution.
During the 2007 presidential election
French presidential election, 2007
The 2007 French presidential election, the ninth of the Fifth French Republic was held to elect the successor to Jacques Chirac as president of France for a five-year term.The winner, decided on 5 and 6 May 2007, was Nicolas Sarkozy...
, the UDB supported Green
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
candidate Dominique Voynet
Dominique Voynet
Dominique Voynet was a French senator for the département of Seine-Saint-Denis, the mayor of Montreuil and a member of The Greens.-Life:...
.
In the 2009 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009 (France)
European elections to elect 72 French Members of the European Parliament were held on Sunday 7 June 2009.Due to the entry of Romania and Bulgaria in the European Union in 2007, the number of seats allocated to France was revised from 78 seats to 72 seats, a loss of 6 seats...
, the party supported the Europe Écologie
Europe Écologie
Europe Écologie was a French electoral coalition created for the 2009 European elections composed of The Greens and other ecologists and regionalists....
coalition, which includes The Greens
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
.