Strasbourg welcomes new regional capital status

Political leaders in France's Alsace region have welcomed the confirmation of Strasbourg as the capital of a new regional administration.

The French government unveiled Friday its latest plans to reorganize regional government in the country, cutting the number of official regions from 22 to 13.

The move has sparked resistance in many regions, not least Alsace, despite Strasbourg being chosen as the capital of the enlarged region of Alsace, Lorraine, Champagne-Ardenne (ALCA).

In a statement on Friday, the socialist deputy mayor of Strasbourg Philippe Bies said: "A strong region needs a strong capital and the reorganization (of the regions) presented today by the prime minister takes this into account."

The law on the new regions comes into effect from Jan. 1, 2016. However, the reforms had been treated with suspicion in Alsace, which is very attached to its distinctive identity and there is still some opposition to the idea of becoming part of a much larger region.

"Each territory will find its place in the new region, while Strasbourg is to be the administrative and political capital of the 'Grand Est'," said Bies. The name Grand Est (Greater East) has been called for by the president of the Alsace regional council and former minister Philippe Richert in place of the acronym ALCA.

Irrespective their political affiliations, elected politicians from Alsace could not conceive of Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, not also being the capital of the new larger region.

Nevertheless they had to tread carefully in political negotiations to defend the status of Strasbourg without hurting the sensibilities of their new regional partners.

"Consistent with its role as a regional prefecture, Strasbourg will host the regional headquarters of several state services. However, there will be no centralization in Strasbourg," Richert was careful to emphasize, being a candidate in upcoming regional elections in December.