A referendum was held in Alsace today on the creation of a single territorial collectivity, as I mentioned here (
https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=171235.msg3678320#msg3678320).
It was to merge the regional council and the 2 general councils (Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin) and replace them with a single regional assembly and executive which would have the region and department's powers. The deliberative
Assemblée d’Alsace would be elected by parallel voting (some in cantons by majority voting, others by list PR); there would have been a separate executive council (like in Corsica) with a regional president. The executive capital would be Colmar (the capital of the Haut-Rhin) and the legislature would sit in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin).
The supporters of the project said it would simplify regional government, strengthen the region and save lots of money. Almost all members of the regional and general councils voted in favour. Philippe Richert, the UMP president of the regional councillor and a former Sarkozy cabinet minister, was one of the most active supporters of the YES, along with the UMP president of the Bas-Rhin CG Guy-Dominique Kennel. Charles Buttner, the UMP president of the Haut-Rhin CG, was initially dead-set against it but he later supported it.
The UMP, UDI, MoDem, Greens (EELV), a majority of the local Socialists, the regionalists and the far-right regionalists (Alsace d'abord) were in favour.
The opposition included the FN (despite having its regional councillors vote in favour...), the FG, the PRG, the far-left and the unions (CGT, FO). A large minority of Socialists in both departments (around Strasbourg and in the Haut-Rhin) were also against, the UMP mayor of Colmar was also against.
The opposition claimed that the the new scheme would mean more taxes, that the savings it would create were minimal. They also played on parochialism, like the Haut-Rhin's fears of Strasbourg domination. Or, in the case of the FN or the far-left/FG, on good ol' Jacobinism by claiming this was the first step in the "Balkanization" of France. Or that the "European elites" had masterminded this as a way to destroy The Republic, One and Indivisible.
The referendum needed 50%+1 AND 25% of registered voters in favour, in both referendums, to pass.
Turnout was about 30-35%. In a huge shocker, the Haut-Rhin voted AGAINST with about 55% while the Bas-Rhin voted in favour with 65-67%.
In conclusion, France is a horrible country. For once, politicians had come up with something decent and worthwhile, but the voters rejected it... A major victory for Jacobinism and dishonest populism; a defeat for common sense and regional autonomy.