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PARIS, France – French lawmakers voted Wednesday to draw up a new map of the country’s regions, reducing them from 22 to 13, in a move aimed at trimming costs and improving efficiency.
Thousands have protested the changes in the eastern region of Alsace, where the main UMP opposition party is in power.
Local lawmakers there said they would seek to appeal the decision at the Constitutional Court.
Only three regions will be unaffected by the changes: Ile de France that includes Paris and its surrounding areas, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur around Marseille and the island of Corsica.
The changes, championed by President Francois Hollande, are due to be implemented in January 2016.
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