Pè a Corsica (English: For Corsica) was a Corsican nationalist political alliance in France, which was calling for more autonomy for Corsica. More specifically, it was a coalition[1] of the two Corsican nationalist parties active on the island;[2] that is, the moderately autonomist Femu a Corsica and the strongly committed separatist Corsica Libera (which won respectively 17.62% and 7.73% of the vote in the first round of the 2015 French regional elections).[3] The party was led by the autonomist Gilles Simeoni.[4][5] The alliance was renewed for the 2017 territorial election.[6] However, the alliance was dissolved for the 2021 territorial election.

For Corsica
Pè a Corsica
LeaderGilles Simeoni
Founded2015
Dissolved2021
HeadquartersCorsica
IdeologyCorsican nationalism

Background

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Corsican nationalism calls for the island's autonomy in France, if not outright independence, following a movement developed since the 1920s with the establishment of the regionalist Corsican Action Party (Partitu Corsu d'Azzione/Parti Corse d'Action) in the town of Bastia. The 2003 Corsican referendum on increased devolution failed by a narrow majority. From the 1970s up until 2014, there have also been many bombings and aggravated assaults claimed by a militant group going by the name of FLNC. By 2012, polls showed more support for increased devolution within France (51%)[7] than for outright independence (stuck at 10–15%).[8]

Electoral performance

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In the December 2015 French regional elections in Corsica, Pè a Corsica won 24 of 51 seats. Gilles Simeoni won the election for the position of Mayor of Bastia with 35.34% of the vote. Jean-Guy Talamoni, leader of Corsica Libera, said: "It’s been a 40-year-long march to arrive here. Corsica is not just a French administrative constituency – it’s a country, a nation, a people."[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Voici les 51 noms de la liste "Per a Corsica"". Corse Matin (in French). Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Presentazione di a lista " Pè a Corsica " - Femu a Corsica". Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. ^ Elections régionales et des assemblées de Corse, Guyane et Martinique 2015 - Résultats de la région au 1er et 2d tour, Interior Ministry of France
  4. ^ Gilles Simeoni vainqueur des territoriales 2015 : liesse à Ajaccio - Corse Matin
  5. ^ Territoriales : le nationaliste Gilles Simeoni, nouvel homme fort de la Corse - Corse Via Stella
  6. ^ Ludovic Galtier (2 December 2017). "Élections territoriales en Corse : ce qu'il faut savoir avant le scrutin du 3 décembre". RTL. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  7. ^ Fourquet, Jérôme. "Enquête sur la situation en Corse: Résultats détaillés" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  8. ^ Fourquet, Jérôme; Kraus, François; Bourgine, Alexandre. "Les Corses et leur perception de la situation sur l'île: Résultats détaillés" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  9. ^ Kim Willsher. "Corsican nationalists win historic victory in French elections". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2016.