Sénat rejects Corsican autonomy bill

The Sénat, France’s upper legislative body, has rejected a proposed bill aimed at advancing Corsican autonomy, a move that has drawn responses from various political figures and groups on the island.

Mondoloni comments on the rejection

Jean-Martin Mondoloni, president of the right-wing group "Un Soffiu Novu" in the Corsican Assembly, said the rejection was not a surprise, as the Sénat’s majority is generally opposed to granting Corsica greater legislative authority or recognizing it as a distinct community.

Mondoloni denies right-wing involvement

Mondoloni denied claims from nationalist groups that the right-wing had actively worked to block the bill, stating that his group was only observers in the Sénat and not responsible for the rejection. He argued that the nationalist portrayal of the situation was misleading and unfair.

Plans for future negotiations

Minister Gatel has announced plans to bring together Corsican elected officials to discuss the next steps, and Mondoloni said his group would participate. However, he suggested that reintroducing the same bill before the presidential elections might not be practical and that a revised version would be needed.

Criticism of the Beauvau process

Mondoloni questioned the effectiveness of the Beauvau process, a formal negotiation framework, saying it could stall indefinitely without compromise. He also criticized the government and Interior Minister Darmanin for delaying progress and noted that nationalist groups had previously lobbied left-wing and ecological senators for support.

Stalemate and uncertainty ahead

The rejection of the bill has left the situation in a stalemate, with no clear winners or losers. Mondoloni acknowledged that the outcome has raised questions about the future of the autonomy process and the need for a new approach to negotiations.