A speech that should be a milestone. Present on the Isle of Beauty for the first time since 2020, Emmanuel Macron proposed this Thursday before the Corsican Assembly to “take a new step” with “the entry of Corsica” into the French Constitution.
The Head of State defended “the audacity of building Corsican autonomy in the Republic”, calling for “a new institutional step” to “profoundly change the relationship between the State and Corsica”.
Towards “a public education service” from Corsica
Enough to satisfy the nationalists, who have run the island’s local authorities since 2018. In April 2022, in the midst of the presidential campaign, Gérald Darmanin promised to discuss the future of the island, “up to a possible autonomy.” Suffice it to say that the Head of State’s speech was eagerly awaited.
Enough to reduce the pressure after numerous clashes in Corsican territory, related to the funeral of Yvan Colonna, who died in a prison attack. This independence activist was convicted of the murder of the prefect Érignac in 1998.
Another announcement well received by nationalists: “a public education service in favor of bilingualism” with French and the Corsican language that “must be placed at the center of life.”
Autonomy “neither against the State nor without the State”
It is now up to local elected officials to “reach an agreement” within six months with the Government on “a constitutional and organic text” that modifies the statute of Corsica.
“There is no red line, there is an ideal of a Republic,” concluded the president, for whom autonomy “should be neither against the State nor without the State.”
Can Emmanuel Macron succeed in the bet he launched before the Corsican Assembly, widely applauded at the end of his speech?
A very complicated vote of senators and deputies
Nothing is less certain. After the agreement – very likely – which should give rise to discussions between the executive and the elected Corsicans, the text will have to go through the Caudine branches of the National Assembly and the Senate meeting in Congress.
Any constitutional modification, even if it does not pass through a referendum, must obtain 3/5 of the votes of Congress. The matter promises to be very risky, between a relative majority in the National Assembly and a right-wing Senate fiercely opposed to the autonomy of Corsica.
Source: BFM TV
