Before the Corsican Assembly in Ajaccio, the president proposed Thursday “autonomy for Corsica”, which is “neither against the State nor without the State”, with conditions.
Visiting Corsica until Friday September 29, Emmanuel Macron proposed that a “new stage is reached” with “autonomy for Corsica”which is not “nor against theEstatus nor withoutEtat”. “This autonomy must be the means of building the future together”, ajouted the President of the Republic, Thursday September 28, before the Corsican Assembly in Ajaccio.
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Emmanuel Macron gave six months to political groups and the Corsican Territorial Assembly to try to find an agreement with the government on A “constitutional and organic text” modifying the status of Corsica.
Autonomy: powers without independence
With the status of autonomy, as an advanced form of decentralization, Corsica would benefit from more powers and skills, while remaining within the Republic. L’EThe state would still retain its sovereign powers, such as justice, armies, currency and the maintenance of order. But economic policies like those of health could be managed directly by the Corsican Assembly.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had already opened the door to autonomy for Corsica, in March 2022, during the last presidential campaign, when Corsica was set ablaze after the fatal attack in prison on Yvan Colonna . Already in 1991, the Minister of the Interior Pierre Joxe had a new status of territorial collectivity adopted for Corsica, with powers, among other things, in education, transport, cultural action and the environment.
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The status of autonomy already exists in France, in certain overseas territories, cited in article 74 of the Constitution: French Polynesia, Saint-Barthélémy, Saint-Martin, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Wallis -and-Futuna.
In March 2022, Gérald Darmanin discussed the possibility of a “Polynesian status” for Corsica. French Polynesia is entirely competent in economic and social matters, school education, health, equipment and the environment.
Independence: a country in its own right
With independence, Corsica would leave the Republic and be a country in its own right. If giving more autonomy to Corsica can be achieved through a simple law, on the other hand, independence can only be achieved through a revision of the Constitution.
The island would then have to do without funding from the administration and national solidarity, such as Social Security. The economy would find itself weakened in sectors where it is less developed, as in manufacturing industry or new technologies.
According to INSEE, between 2000 and 2018, Corsica’s regional GDP increased by an annual average of 2.5%, making it the most dynamic region in France. But GDP per capita amounted to 27,660 euros in 2018, “8% less than the province”. The GDP per capita is even one of the two lowest of all the regions, almost on a par with Hauts-de-France (27,700 euros).
If a territory of a member country of the European Union, such as Corsica, gains independence, it automatically leaves the EU and the euro zone. Territories like Catalonia could then ensure their economic future but the situation would be more difficult in Corsica, deprived of European subsidies. The island is also expected to change its currency.
Emmanuel Macron wants autonomy… under conditions
The autonomy proposed by Emmanuel Macron excludes the creation of a resident status, which would have given the possibility of reserving for residents only the purchase or rental of a house or apartment and that of the transfer of skills to elected officials . On the other hand, a reflection is launched to adapt national standards to Corsica. The Corsican language would be more widely taught at school, but there will be no co-officiality with French, which was a demand of the nationalists.
The process for autonomy will be long since it will be necessary to bring together three-fifths of parliamentarians around the same text to have a constitutional reform adopted, and to overcome the obstacle of the Senate, where the right is in the majority, and which will benefit from a right of veto. The boss of LR senators, Bruno Retailleau, is reluctant to the idea of granting broad legislative power to Corsica.