Occitan Party

The Occitan Party (Occitan: Partit Occitan, [paɾˈtit utsiˈta], abbreviated to POC) is a regionalist political party in France.[1] Its aims include greater autonomy for the historical region of Occitania, southern France. The Occitan Party was formed in Toulouse in 1987 through the union of different Occitanist movements (Volem Viure al Païs, Païs Nòstre etc.), of candidates to the 1986 regional elections and of various individuals.

Occitan Party
Partit Occitan
LeaderGustave Alirol
Founded1987
HeadquartersB. P. 31, 16270, Roumazières-Loubert
IdeologyOccitan nationalism
Regionalism
Autonomism
Social democracy
Environmentalism
Political positionCentre-left
European affiliationEuropean Free Alliance
ColoursRed, yellow, black
Regional Council of Occitania
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Website
http://partitoccitan.org

The party's aims are:

  • To set up a credible Occitanist political movement, independent of all other parties and struggling for Occitan self-government.
  • To dis-alienate and raise the consciousness of the Occitan people.
  • To make the Occitan question come out in the political field.

Electoral and political action

Since 1987, the Occitan Party has contested elections at all levels in different constituencies. In the 1997 parliamentary elections, the POC's best candidates polled 1.8% of the vote. Party members hold office in a few townships, including Saint-Hostien.

The Occitan Party takes part in economical or regional development struggles. Its members are active in struggles for the keeping of local jobs, against wholesale tourist commercialization, against the nuclear power industry, and for the preservation of Occitania's natural environment. They also take part in the defence of the Occitan language and identity.

The Party's paper, Occitània, comes out every two months.

International relationships

The Occitan Party belongs to the Fédération Régions et Peuples Solidaires federation which brings together different regionalist and nationalist political movements in the French state. The Occitan Party also belongs to the European Free Alliance.[2]

Internal organisation

Local or departmental committees are grouped in regional federations. The National Council brings together delegates from the different regional federations (the party's parliament). The National Bureau is elected every two years by a Congress that is open to every party member.

References
  1. Nicolas, Fabien (2004-03-01). "Identité partisane et revendication occitane: Pour en finir avec une absence en Midi rouge : le partit occitan". Pôle Sud (in French). n° 20 (1): 83–96. doi:10.3917/psud.020.0083. ISSN 1262-1676.
  2. Burnett, M. Troy (2020-08-04). Nationalism Today: Extreme Political Movements around the World [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-4408-5000-4.
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