Corsica Autonomy Crisis: Island Representatives Reject Minister's Invitation and Government Cancels Meeting

The French Minister of Territorial Cohesion and Decentralization, Françoise Gatel, decided to cancel the meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 12, to discuss the issue of Corsican autonomy, following the announcement by the island's Assembly and Executive Council declining to accept the invitation extended to them.

Collective Rejection of the Meeting's Format and Timing

The refusal was articulated in a joint statement issued by the President of the Corsican Assembly, Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, and the President of the Executive Council, Gilles Giovannangeli, who affirmed that the ministerial initiative provides no clear answers regarding the methodology pursued, the proposed timetable, or even the core demands and proposals formulated by Corsican institutions.

A succession of boycott decisions followed across the island's political spectrum; the "PNC" and "Avanzemu" parties announced their decision not to attend, stressing that overcoming the crisis requires a high-level political framework rather than a conventional meeting. The "Core In Fronte" party also declined to participate following the conviction of activist Stéphane Ori, arguing that the dialogue is compromised by the security climate. On the right, Jean-Martin Mondoloni withdrew from attending in light of the absence of the other parties, while Laurent Marcangeli and Jean-Jacques Panunzi had already decided to boycott in advance.

Government Position and Constitutional Amendment Efforts

In response, the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion and Decentralization confirmed that it had taken note of the elected officials' stances and decided to cancel the meeting, while underscoring the government's commitment to continuing direct and calm dialogue with Corsica's parliamentarians and elected representatives. The ministry explained that the objective remains reaching a consensual text that allows moving forward with a constitutional revision under Article 89 of the French Constitution.

The minister announced her intention to organize a meeting next week bringing together various parliamentary groups in the National Assembly and the Senate, in preparation for a joint session bringing together parliamentarians and Corsican elected officials to define the framework for a final political agreement. This tension follows the resolution adopted by the Corsican Assembly on November 5, which called for direct political consultation at the highest level initiated by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister.