Deputy re-elected President of French parliamentary group

Wednesday 05 October 2022

A Reform Jersey Deputy and former Assistant Minister with responsibility for culture and heritage has been re-elected President of the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie.

Deputy Montfort Tadier secured the role last week, beating Deputy Philip Bailhache.

The APF an international organisation that brings together parliamentarians from francophone countries across the globe. 

Any States Members who speak French are eligible to represent the island at APF conferences and meetings arranged by the organisation.

Since Jersey became a full member of the APF in 1980, the organisation has been at the forefront of maintaining healthy relationships between Jersey and the French speaking world.

On 26 September, the Jersey branch of the APF met to elect a President and members to sit on their Executive Committee for the next four years. Deputy Tadier received 18 votes while his opposing candidate, Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache, received eight votes.

Additionally, the meeting saw the election of the Connétable of St. Brelade, Mike Jackson, Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache, Deputy Raluca Kovacs, Deputy Helen Miles and Deputy Kirsten Morel as members of the Committee.

Pictured: Deputy Montfort Tadier has been re-elected as President of the APF Executive Committee. 

Following the vote, members received a short briefing from the Directors of the two key francophone institutions in Jersey: The Alliance Française, a registered charity that aims to promote education of the French language and a better knowledge of francophone culture, and La Maison de Normandie et de La Manche, the permanent representative office of the County Council of La Manche and the Regional Council of Normandy in the island. 

After the election, Deputy Tadier expressed his “delight” at the result, stating that “it’s been a privilege to serve on the Committee for the last four years.” He expressed the importance of the APF’s role in ensuring that “Jersey and its parliament is represented not only in English-speaking countries, but in France and further afield.”

The same day, Deputy Tadier tweeted: “I’m pleased to have been re-elected as President of the @ApfBranch for a further 4 years. Encore bcp de travail à faire. We start with the #CornRiots this weekend, remembering our local cultural and a celebration of multilingualism and diversity.”

La Folle d'Avoût est d'èrtou! La Fête du Jèrriais will be merged with Corn Riots in 2022. Look out for the Jèrriais team over the weekend of 1-2 Oct in St Hélyi. There'll be singing, dancing, Norman games, films, an exhibition and lots more. Check out https://t.co/IwLc85QfxS pic.twitter.com/H2vAI3BH2e

— La Fête du Jèrriais (@fetedujerriais) September 26, 2022 

Watch: Evidence of the APF's contribution to island life was on full display at the recent Corn Riots festival

Evidence of the work done by the APF was on full display at the Corn Riots Festival with the Alliance Française hosting workshops for those looking to further their knowledge of French and a 'conversation au pub' at the Blue Note Bar where attendees were encouraged to “celebrate the Corn Riots and the diversity of languages”.

The festival also saw a host of Norman market traders as well as some talented Francophone bands including the 'L’Etoile Cirée Brass band' and 'For The Hackers'.