The government has submitted a constitutional bill paving the way for autonomy for Corsica within the Republic. Recognition of a historical, linguistic, and cultural community, local normative power, legislative adaptations: behind the political slogans, here is what the text concretely provides.
Autonomy Enshrined in the Constitution
The constitutional bill presented by the government creates a new Article 72-5 in the Constitution. For the first time, Corsica would be explicitly recognized as having a status of autonomy within the French Republic.
Recognition of a Historical, Linguistic, and Cultural Community
The text acknowledges the unique characteristics of Corsica: its Mediterranean insularity, its historical, linguistic, and cultural community, as well as the special bond developed with its territory. This formulation constitutes one of the main innovations of the project.
Local Normative Power
The Collectivity of Corsica could adapt certain rules to the realities of the island and, in areas defined by an organic law, enact its own regulations.
Clearly Defined Limits
The sovereign powers of the State remain excluded. Nationality, justice, defense, currency, foreign affairs, and fundamental freedoms would remain the exclusive domain of the State.
Control by the Constitutional Council
The norms adopted by the Collectivity of Corsica would remain subject to judicial review ensuring their compliance with the Constitution.
An Organic Law to Specify Competencies
The constitutional revision does not immediately grant new detailed competencies. A future organic law will need to specify the areas concerned and the modalities for exercising normative powers.
An Unprecedented Institutional Evolution Since Decentralization
If adopted by Parliament and then by the Congress with a three-fifths majority, this reform would represent the most significant evolution of Corsica's institutional status in several decades.
France at a Crossroads?
Beyond Corsica, a broader question is raised: is France ready to constitutionally recognize its territorial, historical, and linguistic diversity?
By acknowledging the existence of a Corsican historical, linguistic, and cultural community and paving the way for an autonomy status, the project marks an important evolution of the French Jacobin tradition. Its supporters see it as a necessary adaptation to the territorial realities of the 21st century and a rapprochement with practices in place in most European states. Opponents fear a challenge to the principle of the indivisibility of the Republic.
The Constitutional Council cannot oppose a revision of the Constitution itself. The real obstacle is political: to come into effect, the project must be adopted in the same terms by the National Assembly and the Senate, and then obtain a three-fifths majority from the Congress convened in Versailles.
