Pè a Corsica
Pè a Corsica | |
|---|---|
| Gilles Simeoni | |
| Headquarters | Corsica |
| Ideology | Corsican nationalism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Corsican Assembly | 24 / 51
|
Pè a Corsica is a Corsican nationalist political party in France. It calls for more autonomy for Corsica based on its different culture and language from the rest of mainland France[citation needed]. The party is led by the autonomist Gilles Simeoni.[1][2] In the French regional elections, 2015 it won 24 of 51 seats.
Background
The Corsican nationalism movement has calls for the sovereignty of the island as a nation[clarification needed]. This follows the history of Corsica and the French conquest of Corsica. Following years of violence by the FLNC (stopped in 2014), the 2003 Corsican referendum on increased devolution failed by a narrow majority. The Corsican language is also labeled as a "definitely endangered language" by UNESCO.
History
Template:Requires attention Pè a Corsica is a coalition[3] (led by Simeoni[1][2]) of the two Corsican nationalist parties active on the island,[4] being the autonomist Femu a Corsica and the separatist Corsica Libera (which won respectively 17,62% and 7,73% of the vote in the first round of the 2015 French regional elections.[5])
In December 2015, violent protests occurred in Ajaccio's poor neighbourhood of Jardins de l'Empereur following an attack on firefighters who were ambushed in a false flag call. The following day, a Muslim prayer hall in the area was burned with at least part of a Quran set on fire. Though protests were banned until at least 4 January 2016, protests continued in the following days.[6]
President of the Corsican Assembly Jean-Guy Talamoni blamed the "imported" ideology of the National Front and claimed the protests and arson were anethema to Corsican nationalism, which had established the Corsican Republic.[7] He also said the perpetrators tended to support the National Front and were not nationalists.[8] In response the National Front issued a statement that read "the unacceptable violence which shook Ajaccio on 25 December is the unfortunately expected consequence of lax and weak politics, which leaves neighbourhoods to become no-go areas where representatives of the emergency services are assaulted daily."[9] Corsica's administrator Christophe Mirmand said: "This behaviour must stop. It hurts Corsica's image."[8] Bishop of Ajaccio Olivier de Germay condemned the violence, stating that "those who commit violent acts in the name of the Christian faith are fooling themselves."[10]
Electoral performance
In the December French regional elections, 2015 in Corsica, Pè a Corsica won 24 of 51 seats. Mayor of Bastia Gilles Simeoni won the election 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."[11]
References
- ^ a b Gilles Simeoni vainqueur des territoriales 2015 : liesse à Ajaccio - Corse Matin
- ^ a b Territoriales : le nationaliste Gilles Simeoni, nouvel homme fort de la Corse - Corse Via Stella
- ^ "Voici les 51 noms de la liste "Per a Corsica"". Corse Matin (in French).
- ^ Presentazione di a lista « Pè a Corsica » - Femu a Corsica
- ^ Elections régionales et des assemblées de Corse, Guyane et Martinique 2015 - Résultats de la région au 1er et 2d tour, Interior Ministry of France
- ^ "Corsica march: Hundreds defy protest ban after Muslim prayer hall attack". BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ "Corsica attack: Nationalist leader blames 'imported' racism". BBC News. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ a b Chazan, David (28 December 2015). "Two people arrested after attack on firemen sparks racial tension in Corsica". Telegraph. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ "Communiqué de presse du Front National" (in French). Front National. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ "L'Éveque D'Ajaccio denonce les "actions violentes" commises au nom "de la foi Chretienne"". France Soir (in French). 29 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ Kim Willsher. "Corsican nationalists win historic victory in French elections". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2016.