A historic agreement was signed yesterday between the Jura and the Bernese Jura K/Cantons - agreeing to put to the referendum the possible unification of the 2 into 1.

In 1815, the Vienna Congress 'gave' the Jura to the Bernese, in 'compensation' for the loss of Vaud. These French speaking and Catholic regions were forced into adopting the new Rulers, who took the lands and imposed both Bernese language (in every aspect of life, including schools) and protestant religion. The Jurassiens were never asked how they felt about the whole thing - and of course great resentment built up. This finally came to a head in the late 1940s and eventually led to a series of votes in the mid 70s. The autonomy of the Jura C/Kanton was finally agreed in 1978- the region being split between those areas wanting independence, and those who chose to stay as part of Bern.

The concept of a united Jura is bound to create a lot of turmoil, and a lot of uncertainty- but is also very exciting. The two Referendum (one for the Jura and one for the Bernese Jura) should take place end 2013 at the earliest. Interesting times- my dad would have taken a very keen interest.

I have been following this regional break away problem, and was surprised at the violence it created in the 60's.

Is there today a general anti Berne feeling in the area? Due to the weak economy of the Jura, I would expect the protestant citizens to be very pleased they are part of a large successful canton, therefore I would expect them to vote "Non!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_of_Jura
Since 1994, the question of the Jura region has again been controversial. In 2004, a federal commission proposed that the French-speaking southern Jura be reunited with the Canton of Jura, as the language question now seems to be more important than the denominational one. A possible solution would be to create two Half-Cantons, as reunification with the creation of only a single Canton would mean a complete restructuring of the Jura's current political system with the Cantonal capital being transferred from Delémont to Moutier.

It is a very complex question and goes very deep - culture, language, religion, land, top job for the boys, etc, etc. Far deeper than economy alone.

A bit like saying that the 'Irish question' is just about economics.

The whole area was given/annexed- without any say whatsoever. Then saw the best lands given to the new comers- Swiss German imposed in Court and schools, a new religion imposed. The hurt and upheaval couldn't have been any less than when the Normans swept over England. Except this was not so long ago- barely 200- so the wounds are still very raw.

Fascinating ... when I first visited Switzerland in 1947 I stayed at a farm in the Jura region of Canton de Berne and heard a lot of talk about "independence". I thought that the creation of the Canton du Jura in 1979 would end the issue. Obviously it has not, and I must say I have found the issues hard to follow from a distance.

Can you remember exactly where you stayed? Only the 'North' chose independence, the Catholic, French-speaking areas more or less, and became the new Jura Canton. The 'South' chose to stay with Bern- but of course many of the voters were of Bernese descent and not Jurassiens... So a once (more or less) united region was split by the vote- but many have always hoped this would be reversed one day. What will actually happen is anybodies guess. Easier in many ways now that the religious aspects are less primordial to most, and have been diluted by immigration. My family hails from the French speaking, Catholic part, and my dad felt very strongly about independence from the Bernese Bear- and had a strong aversion for the imposed Bernese dialect.

It seems to me that the whole Jura question should have been settled when the whole area voted and the Canton Jura was formed. Now it seems that we have to go on voting and voting until Canton Jura gets all the rest of what they want, no matter what the southern Jurassiens think or want. Why do they have the right to impose their will on the southern part, who are definitely against it? Is that supposed to be democracy? I only know that this question has divided familes, and caused great problems and even deaths, and I personally am disgusted that the Swiss government is again giving in to this pressure. I am not Bernese, but have lived here for many years and know my way around pretty well and have family in Jura Sud, who are most definitely NOT longing to be appropriated by Jura Canton. The southern part is the more properous, and my own opinion is that they are now supposed to bring a lot of jobs and money with them when they are annexed.

So, are you planning to learn German?

Maybe we should return Ticino to Uri/Schwyz/Unterwalden while we're at it!

Screw the foreigners! (and that means northerners as well as southerners, strange as I am a committed CT Yankee).

Tom

In 1947, when I was ten years old

All I know is that the family I stayed with spoke French (obviously, otherwise they would not have been interested in independence).

Given how much bloodshed this kind of national identity issue has caused around the world it is a pleasure to see it dealt with the Swiss way.

I think some of you don't realize that the southern Jurassiens speak French, not German. Many both in the south and the northern part have Swiss German names, but are totally francophone. My southern J family are all French speaking, but completely against a union with the northern part. As for me, I have learned German (Bernese dialect), as well as the French and English I brought with me from Canada - though my French was pretty feeble at the start.

I'm not averse to sorting out ny old traditions, but it kind of invalidates the 1979 establishment of the newest Canton. There are a host of other problems going on in Jura (high unemployment, lack of investment and low potential) that from my point of view warrant more immediate attention than playing around with the cantonal borders again.

In short, the areas which last time did NOT join Jura were the Protestant areas, while the Catholic areas were in favour. This divide shows that the division line was implemented long before the Bernese got the territory as they otherwise also would have changed things in the "Pruntruter-Zipfel". Public votes in the future will lead to Moutiers joining Jura, which is fairly important in the regional context, plus a few other municipalities close to Jura, but other areas like the Neuenstadt/LaNeuveville area will stay with Bern.

Interesting will be to see how things will evolve INSIDE the Canton de Jura. I mean, Moutiers with almost 8000 inhabitants is clearly larger than Pruntrut with less than 6000 inhabitants may develop aspirations about being the Capital of the enlarged Jura.

In regard to La Neuveville, it is interesting to see that villages like Twann, Ligerz and Schafis were German speaking all the time, and that it was and is the same with Erlach,Vinelz and Lüscherz on the other side of the Lake. So that things will be interesting for people interested in the small regional developments, while of course of being of meagre relevance on the national level and completely irrelevant on an international scale.

To me, it already in 1979 was absolutely clear that it was not yet the end of the matter. When listening to the arguments of people from Moutiers who argued that A) Jura would be a Canton of extremist Catholic zealots and that B) Jura would go bankrupt within a few years and C) Jura could never develop any stable structures, it was obvious that things were/are subject to change. I hope that as many parts of the Bernese Jura as possible join the Canton de Jura as possible, in the order of a "Flurbereinigung". I over the years spoke with many people from the language-border areas, and had my notion of an increasing tolerance being sharply rejected and had to take note of realities, which indeed were miles away from my ideals and wishes. This means that the language border does not become easier but sharper, that municipatalities which were BIlingual in the 1960ies long ago have become mono-lingual in the meantime. And this in reality simply means that a good part of those municipalities who in the coming votes vote in favour of Bern will become German speaking within two decades. While those INSIDE the Canton de Jura will become 90%plus French speaking. Reality check ? Formerly bilingual Murten/Morat is now fully German-speaking and that includes outer suburbs like Cressier, and Biel/Bienne which was BIlingual with a 70/30% German/French divide is now in reality 90%plus German speaking.

Let's not exaggerate. People in those areas should and hopefully will have the same right as everybody else to make up their minds again. I will support whatever decision they make. The outcome has not to please ME but it has to reflect the will of the folks of those regions, as best as possible.

I noticed this summer. No problem for me, people happily answered me in French, but in the streets, in shops and in buses everyone seemed to be speaking German.

Delémont is the capital of Jura with a population of 12000+, although Porrentruy (Pruntrut) was the ancient capital of the Archveques in years gone by ...

Erm, no it isn't. Yes, German is the predominant language and has been for centuries, but you still hear French spoken and practically everyone there is comfortable speaking one or the other.

I agree. We go to Murten regularly and they are always happy to speak to me in French when the see how pathetic my German is. I was quite surprised in the Migros cafe recently when the cashier spoke to me in French as I hadn't actually said anything at all so she couldn't have known how abysmal my German is. (I can ask the stuff but don't understand their answer when they reply in Swiss German)

Both the Jura and the Bernese Jura will have totally separate referendums, so the South will definitely be able to independently state what they 'think or want'. The Governments of both K/Cantons agreed to sign the agreement and put the decision to a referendum, this is not in any way shape or form 'imposed' by the North. However it is clear that some parts of the South will come clearly in favour, and others not. And this may put the cat among the pigeons.

When the old Canton Basel split, it became two Semi-Cantons, with only one Ständerat seat each. Ditto for Appenzell.

The right thing to do when Jura split from Bern would have been to make both Semi-Cantons. If they want to split again they should share a seat

Oh, sorry, how could I forget Délémont/Delsberg !?
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and when checking up found the facts about the leading municipalities of the Jura
Ort Einwohner Delsberg 11'590 Porrentruy 6679 Bassecourt 3395 Courroux 3039 Courrendlin 2511 Saignelégier 2501 Courtételle 2376 Courgenay 2161
and the figures about the Canton of Jura as it is now

Fläche: 839 km² Einwohner: 70'197[1-
compare to this the figures of the "Berner Jura"
Total (49) 51'668 541.75
and it becomes clear that the present-day Berner Jura



may become important in the new Canton of Jura if a heavy part of the place joins the Canton de Jura