French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Corsica for two days since Wednesday September 27, 2023. On Thursday, the head of state notably delivered a highly anticipated speech to the Corsican Assembly in Ajaccio: during a “ historical moment », in his words, Emmanuel Macron proposed granting “ autonomy » to the island, responding to attacks from nationalist leaders, who have long called for increased skills.
2 mins
With our special correspondent in Ajaccio, Charlotte Urien-Tomaka
As the president himself called it, it was a “ historical moment “, with elected officials from the Corsican Assembly who warmly applauded the president and stood up at the end of his speech. Because Emmanuel Macron pronounced the long-awaited word of “ autonomy » and a new step will therefore be taken:
“ We must move forward, and for this we need the entry of Corsica into our Constitution. To respond to the need for recognition, to avoid new confrontations, let’s go beyond totems for some, taboos for others. Basically, let us have the audacity to build autonomy for Corsica in the Republic. »
A tailor-made model therefore. And to implement this process, the head of state set a limit of “ six months » to Corsican elected officials to work on a constitutional revision text. This would give a “ autonomy » to the island, but remaining within the limits of the Republic, so that “ this step allows Corsica to be fully anchored in the Republic and to recognize its singularity “.
“ It will not be autonomy against the State nor autonomy without the State », in the words of the president. It therefore responded to the two strongest expectations of the Corsicans: resident status and co-officiality of the language. These two crucial points were not negotiable for the elected autonomists.
This constitutional revision must now be approved by Parliament meeting in congress. A new step to take, and not the easiest.
Read alsoMacron expected by Corsican nationalists: “Approach reminiscent of New Caledonia”