“Today there were a lot of words. We expect action in the coming weeks”, Paul-André Colombani, nationalist MP for Corse-du-Sud, said Monday on franceinfo, after Gérald Darmanin’s visit to Corsica on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the assassination of the prefect Claude Erignac. The Minister of the Interior notably “extended his hand” to the nationalists while deploring the lack of “respondent”. Paul-André Colombani notes “a significant development” of the government in its “way of thinking” in Corsica. He calls to “a general audit” of the Assembly of Corsica and pleaded for autonomy “in the Republic”.
franceinfo: Gérald Darmanin deplores a lack of response from Corsican elected officials. What do you answer him?
Paul-Andre Colombani: We experienced a February 6 which could become important in the history of Corsica. But today there have been many words. We expect actions in the coming weeks. We too have called for the resumption of dialogue because Corsica needs it, because peace in Corsica must be established on a lasting basis. Here I agree with the Minister’s remarks. It’s better than five years ago, because five years ago we had a very bad February 6 as an elected official from Corsica. There has been a notable evolution in the way of thinking about Corsica at the level of this government. So we take note and we are ready to come and discuss political subjects. It’s better than five years ago, but it’s perhaps worse than the much more political speeches of twenty years ago, from the government of Lionel Jospin for example.
Are the discussions off to a good start?
Many things need to be cleared up because we are convinced that the solution of Corsica’s autonomy is a solution that is more appropriate, in terms of culture, in terms of language, in terms of many of our demands. And today, to implement it, we need an assessment of the skills of this Assembly of Corsica, which must be reviewed. We really need a general audit, not just of skills at the Assembly of Corsica, but of everything that does not work in Corsica. Let me remind you, for example, of the fight against serious crime. The community of Corsica has no competence and it does not work either.
Can this evolution be done in the Republic? It is a term on which the Minister of the Interior insists.
If I was teasing, I would say it’s almost a tautology. You know, when we talk about autonomy, we only talk about it in the Republic. Otherwise it’s something else. It is independence.
How do you think these discussions will take place? How can this nuance succeed?
Already, it has been decided that there are working groups that will get to work very quickly in the coming weeks. We are bound by a timetable which is constrained by what is also happening in New Caledonia, because there is a constitutional reform which is opening and will open very quickly from the beginning of 2024. And Corsica must finds its place inside.
Can one be a nationalist and a republican?
The values of the Republic are universal. They don’t just belong to one country.