Corsican nationalists secure historic election victory

Corsican nationalists secured an unprecedented victory elections on Sunday on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica for a new regional assembly, crushing President Emmanuel Macron's young centrist movement and traditional parties.

Candidates for the Pe a Corsica nationalist party Jean Guy Talamoni (4L) and Gilles Simeoni (5L) celebrate with party members and supporters after the annoucement of the results in the territorial elections in Bastia on the French Mediterranean Island of Corsica. Picture: Getty Images

The nationalists on the island of 320,000 people want more autonomy from Paris but unlike those in Scotland and the nearby Spanish region of Catalonia, they are not yet seeking full independence.

In what French media called a historic result, a coalition of moderate and harder-line nationalists won 56.5 per cent of the vote in yesterday’s second-round election, according to figures from the Interior Ministry.

Local media showed nationalists singing Corsican songs and celebrating in the streets after the results were announced.

Candidates for the Pe a Corsica nationalist party Jean Guy Talamoni (4L) and Gilles Simeoni (5L) celebrate with party members and supporters after the annoucement of the results in the territorial elections in Bastia on the French Mediterranean Island of Corsica. Picture: Getty Images

The nationalist coalition, which also won the most votes in the first round a week ago, will have 41 of the 63 seats in the new assembly, which takes office on January 1 after a territorial reform replacing previous assemblies.

Candidates from Mr Macron’s Republic on the Move! party won just six seats.

On the ballot were nationalist issues such as amnesty for political prisoners, the recognition of Corsican as the official language alongside French, and protections for locals who want to buy property on the island the French refer to as the Island of Beauty, which is also rich in history and famed as the birthplace of Napoleon.

Candidates for the Pe a Corsica nationalist party Jean Guy Talamoni (4L) and Gilles Simeoni (5L) celebrate with party members and supporters after the annoucement of the results in the territorial elections in Bastia on the French Mediterranean Island of Corsica. Picture: Getty Images

The nationalists formed an alliance between the more popular, moderate group led by Gilles Simeoni, who wants devolved power, and a fiery movement led by Jean-Guy Talamoni, who aims to eventually get full autonomy for Corsica, though not immediately.

The vote came a day after French Basques marched through Paris demanding the release of fellow Basques held in prisons around the country for separatist activity.

Far away in the South Pacific, the French territory of New Caledonia is preparing for a referendum on self-rule next year.a