Corsica today
In recent years, Corsica has made considerable steps towards self-government. In 1991, the Region of Corsica became the Territorial Collectivity of Corsica (CTC), giving the Mediterranean island a distinct status within the French Republic. With its change of status, Corsica was granted a degree of political and administrative autonomy, making it one of the most decentralized regions of France and equipping it with a system of government that is unique within the French state and comparable to devolved government in France's more decentralized European neighbours. In elections for Corsica's Territorial Assembly the year after the creation of the CTC, Corsican nationalists won more support than ever, obtaining more than 25% of the vote.

In 2001, even more powers were transferred to the CTC, so that taxation, energy, the environment, education, the Corsican language, transport, agriculture, culture and tourism now fall within the ambit of the Collectivity's responsibilities. Click here to view the CTC website.

Today, however, major changes are afoot among Corsica's sovereigntist parties, with alliances being broken and reformed. There is a division in the Corsican Territorial Assembly between pro-autonomy groups such as A Chjama Naziunale and U Partitu di a Nazione Corsa on the one hand and pro-independence groups such as Corsica Nazione Indipendente (CNI) on the other. In the 2004 elections, the pro-autonomy and pro-independence parties formed the Unione Naziunale coalition, which secured eight seats in the Corsican Assembly out of a total 51. But in early 2008 the coalition collapsed. At the time CNI leader Jean-Guy Talamoni said "the split had taken place months ago."

The main reason for discord within the Corsican nationalist camp has always been the links certain Corsican independence groups maintain with armed militants. After the break-up of the Unione Naziunale coalition, Talamoni said that the differences between the two groups included "different visions of independence and armed struggle, which we support and they systematically condemn." Click here for the relevant Nationalia article.

The National Front for the Liberation of Corsica (FLNC) is today the main pro-independence militant group on the island, although over the years there have been various similar organizations and branches of the FLNC. In 2003, the FLNC declared a ceasefire, which was broken in 2005. The FLNC has since perpetrated a number of violent attacks, chiefly bombs targeting tourism infrastructure and official buildings representing the French state.

A matter of months after the break-up of the Unione Naziunale coalition, independence parties announced that a new unitary party, Corsica Libera, would be set up in 2009, bringing together Corsica Nazione Indipendente, Rinnovu Naziunale, Accolta Naziunale Corsa-Partitu Sucialistu per l'Indipendenza and Strada Diritta. Click here to see the article at corsematin.com.

In addition to demands for self-government, Corsican nationalism has traditionally been closely linked to environmental concerns and coastal protection. Today the ecological component to nationalism on the island manifests itself in terms of opposition to the Corsican Land Management and Sustainable Development Plan (PADDUC). Pro-autonomy and pro-independence parties have come together to support the Front Uni-Fronte Unitu campaign, along with various organizations and trade unions. Click here for the campaign manifesto [pdf].

See the Corsica profile for further information.