After nearly an hour of tense exchanges between the opposition and the mayor of Bastia, Gilles Simeoni, regarding the appeal concerning the 2026 municipal election, the Bastia municipal council was finally able to proceed with its agenda, which included the adoption of a resident status for Bastia. This status, more symbolic than truly effective given the current illegality of such a measure when several villages attempted to implement it, includes Corsicans in the diaspora, who must meet three out of five criteria to be considered eligible for this status. The decision was adopted by the municipal majority, two PNC opposition members, and Jean-Sébastien de Casalta. The technical application details are minimal, and the vote gives the strong impression of a desire to show the government a firm willingness to implement such a status once autonomy is achieved, a point Gilles Simeoni does not deny. On the opposition side, positions have slightly varied. Jean-Martin Mondoloni has adopted a nuanced position, stating he is in favor of the co-officiality of the Corsican language and the recognition of the Corsican people, while opposing the resident status. He argued that for various reasons, and notably for legal reasons, it would be more appropriate to propose a residence status that targets the destination of properties rather than their buyer or occupant. This measure would, for example, have the merit of reducing the number of second homes. Sylvain Fanti, also against the resident status, denounced it as a smokescreen operation that does not lead to any concrete solutions for the housing problems of Bastians and those who want to live in Bastia. He urged Gilles Simeoni to be more British than French, as Pascal Paoli had been in some way, by prioritizing efficient solutions over incantations. Nicolas Battini, and his group Unione di i Patriotti, abstained. The far-right leader, in favor of such a status, however prefers to move towards the descendant status, which he promotes alongside the Rassemblement National. However, even regarding the resident status itself, Nicolas Battini wants an additional safeguard to be added if necessary, that of eligibility being conditional on French nationality. Jean-Sébastien de Casalta, the municipal council member from the Uniti group, voted in favor of this status, as did his PNC colleagues with whom he seems to be gradually aligning. Nevertheless, Jean-Sébastien de Casalta remains skeptical about the possibility of making this mechanism effective, given the legislative wall.