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Politics
Regional Council in Montpellier, designed by Spanish Ricardo Bofill Former flag of Languedoc-Roussillon.At the regional elections in March 2004, the fiery and domineering socialist mayor of Montpellier Georges Frêche, a maverick in French politics, conquered the region, defeating its center-right president. Since then, Georges Frêche has embarked on a complete overhaul of the region and its institutions. The flag of the region, which displayed the cross of Languedoc as well as the Flag of Roussillon (the "Senyera"), was changed for a new nondescript flag with no reference to the old provinces, except in terms of the colors (red and yellow), which are the colors of both Languedoc and all the territories from the former Crown of Aragon.

In the same spirit, Georges Frêche also wanted to change the name of the region, wishing to erase its duality (Languedoc vs. Roussillon) and strengthen its unity. Thus, he wanted to rename the region "Septimanie" (English: Septimania). Septimania was the name created by the Romans at the end of the Roman Empire for the coastal area corresponding quite well to present day Languedoc-Roussillon (including Roussillon, but not including Gévaudan), and used in the early Middle Ages for the area. The name would have transcended the difference between the Occitan and Catalan speaking areas of Languedoc-Roussillon, and shown a unity that goes back before Languedoc or Principality of Catalonia appeared. This name, however, has not been in use since the 9th century, and it sounded quite odd to French people. A strong opposition of the population led to Georges Frêche giving up on his idea, and cutting almost all use of the name. He declared that he still believed in it but could not go ahead without a mandate.

Actually, Catalan nationalism in Roussillon would like the Pyrénées-Orientales department to secede from Languedoc-Roussillon and become a region in its own right, which they wish to name "Catalunya Nord" (i.e. Northern Catalonia), but it is quite probable that the French government will oppose.

On the other hand, in the current debate over the reform of French political divisions, which focuses on the fact that there exist too many small regions in France, there are some who would like to merge the Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions, thus reunifying the old province of Languedoc, and creating a large region able to compete at the European level. It seems probable that Georges Frêche, with his idea of a "Septimanie" region, would not support such plans, although political leaders in Béziers, Narbonne, and especially Nîmes, would probably support such a merger, hostile as they are to Montpellier, which was chosen as the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon instead of their own city, and which they accuse of hegemony.