Entrepreneurs: Corsicans should be ones to make decisions on their island

The French government must understand that the language cannot be suppressed, Somer Perp, a merchant at the Central Market in Corsica, told Report.

“I have been selling local products produced in the southern region of Corsica for 23 years. The struggle for the Corsican language has been going on for several years. Slowly this struggle is giving a result. One day we will reach our goal,” he stressed.

He believes that the independence of Corsica is an important issue: “Because this, in turn, will have solved several problems. Unfortunately, even after gaining independence, it will take many years for our language to be fully used. It will take a long to teach Corsican in schools again, to teach our language to the new generation. The state should understand that language cannot be suppressed. There are various local languages in the regions, which are the national wealth of the peoples.”

Ivan Pato, the owner of a souvenir shop located in the center of Ajaccio, told Report that the politicians of the island are pursuing the right policy, and Corsica should be given autonomy: “I have been struggling for the preservation of our national identity since my youth. Today, Corsican politicians are pursuing the right policy. They demanded autonomy for Corsica. I welcome their appeal and support both collective actions and personal initiatives in this direction. I support all measures that serve the survival of our language, protection of the local environment, and balanced economic development.”

Pato believes that Corsicans should be ones to make decisions on their island: “For this purpose, local government should be strengthened. In general, the power of the local legislature for the Corsican community should be increased.”

The use of the Corsican language has been banned on the French island of Corsica. Fernand de Varennes, the UN special rapporteur on minorities, made a statement on this issue saying that allowing only French to be used in Corsica is discriminatory and a violation of international law. While English is used in public universities, the Corsican language is banned.