“It’s a historic moment, a march of unprecedented proportions in Ajaccio,” Gilles Simeoni, chairman of Corsica’s executive council, told reporters. Strengthened Corsican nationalist movementWith the island’s mainstream political parties facing widespread disillusionment in their constituency over claims of corruption, the nationalists achieved their best-ever performance in December’s regional election. Violent historyThere has been an active nationalist movement for decades on Corsica, but it has long been known for resorting to violence and has been linked to over 40 murders. In 2014 they announced a ceasefire, which coincided with nationalist forces gaining increased political power. The government is playing with fire by rejecting the nationalists’ demands, Simeoni told the Reuters news agency in an interview this week, referencing the independence movement’s violent history.

Source: Egypt Independent February 04, 2018 09:33 UTC