For centuries, the misunderstandings and confrontation between the Corsican people and the French governments have been one of the main preoccupations of the central power in Paris. And for the most part, the French governments have been able to find pathways to collaborate on the most sensitive points and issues with their Corsican counterparts.

Mostly due to what Corsican opposition called a crackdown on dissent, tensions have been intensifying rapidly in recent days, Ednews informs.

The arrest of two nationalist activists by the police lead to a strong mobilization by the citizens displeased with how the process was handled. Both of them were subsequently transferred to Paris in the late afternoon of January 31. According to a source close to the case, the two men were arrested as part of a judicial investigation into their recent activities.

The rally today was attended by the members of the Bastia municipal council, including Pierre Savelli, the mayor, Paul Tieri, deputy mayor, and Lauda Guidicelli, municipal councilor responsible for gender equality. Also present was Josepha Giacometti-Piredda, who said that Tuesday evening's mobilization "must provide a rapid response to these arrests, which were carried out in a very violent manner using unacceptable methods". It was also an opportunity for the Nazione members to denounce the timing of these arrests "which seem to leave little room for chance: a few hours after the creation of a new independence movement and just a few days before the arrival of Minister Gérald Darmanin as part of the pseudo Beauvau process".

The Beauvau process mentioned above, consists of president’s Macron desire to create an autonomy within France for the Corsican island and find a pathway for the reconciliation between the Corsica and France. The history of the agreement involves the efforts lead by Emmanuel Macron, six years into his presidency and after unrest spread like wildfire across the island. At that point, president of France, finally addressed the local elected assembly in Ajaccio.

“Let us have the audacity to build a Corsican autonomy within the Republic,” Macron said in the October 28 speech, extending a hand in the chamber dominated by Corsican nationalists, some of whom fiercely support independence from France.