Calls to change French constitution to protect regional languages

Peio Dufau, a Socialist-aligned MP for the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Paul Molac, a Liot (Liberties, Independents, Overseas, and Territories) MP from Morbihan, Brittany, filed a constitutional bill this week calling for a change to Article 2 of the French Constitution.

The article currently states that “the language of the Republic is French”.

This clause means that France’s regional languages such as Basque, Breton, Occitan or Alsacian have no legal status in the country.

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Dufau and Molac still want French to remain the language of the Republic – but also allow regional languages to be promoted, used and preserved.

Dufau said the issue was particularly visible in the Basque Country where some local authorities have tried to give Basque and Gascon a greater role. But some of these initiatives have been challenged by state representatives on constitutional grounds – including the use of street names written entirely in euskara, as the Basque language is known.

The proposed constitutional change would give lawmakers and local authorities more freedom to develop policies supporting regional languages. 

Dufau told local media ICI Pays Basque that Article 2 was originally intended to protect French from the influence of English and anglicisms. But he argues that the way the article has since been interpreted by the Constitutional Council has made it harder to promote and use regional languages.

What are France’s regional languages?

Regional languages are languages traditionally spoken in particular parts of France, often predating the spread of French. They include Basque, Breton, Corsican, Catalan and Occitan, as well as Alsatian, Gallo and several languages spoken in France’s overseas territories.

And these regional languages can still be taught in French schools, from nursery school through to high school. Under the Education Code, their teaching is encouraged in regions where they are spoken. Schools can offer regional languages as a subject or provide bilingual education in French and a regional language.

There are also private associative schools dedicated to regional-language education. For example, the Diwan network operates Breton-language schools in Brittany, while other networks provide immersive education in Basque, Catalan, Occitan and Alsatian/Moselle languages.

However, efforts to promote regional languages have remained controversial. In 2021, the Constitutional Council struck down several provisions of the Molac law, which aimed to protect and promote regional languages.

EXPLAINED: France’s unique regional identities and the languages that shape them

Will the change succeed?

According to Dufau, more than 80 MPs from across the political spectrum have already signed the proposal, from the right-wing Les Républicains (LR) to the far left La France Insoumise (LFI).

The proposal will now begin its parliamentary journey with debates in the Assemblée nationale.

However, changing the French Constitution is complicated and requires a large majority in both the Assemblée and the Senate to begin the formal constitutional revision process. 

It is possible, however, France amended its constitution in 2024 to enshrine the right to abortion, a move that received overwhelming support from politicians in both houses, as well as in public opinion.