(MENAFN) Corsicans have taken to the streets to protest against a recent court ruling that bans the use of the Corsican language, known as Corsu, in official communications and debates in parliament and other political offices. The decision was made by a court in the city of Bastia, which cited the French constitution and declared the Assembly's tradition of holding debates in Corsu as illegal. This ruling has sparked outrage among Corsican politicians who are fighting for autonomy for the French territorial collectivity.
The court ruling also declared unconstitutional a local rule that affirmed the existence of a Corsican people, further fueling the anger of pro-independence politicians. The pro-independence party Core in Fronte criticized the verdict as "shameful" in a tweet written in Corsican, while Jean-Christophe Angelini, the head of the Party of the Corsican Nation, described it as "an injustice and a disgrace."
The executive council president, Gilles Simeoni, and Assembly president, Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, have pledged to appeal the verdict and fight to restore the right of Corsican parliament members to speak their language during debates. In a joint statement, they called for the Corsican language to be elevated to official status alongside French in order to preserve it.
This court ruling has ignited a debate about the recognition of regional languages and cultural identity within France. Corsican politicians and activists argue that the Corsican language is an integral part of their identity and heritage, and that the ban on its use in official communications is a violation of their rights. The protests in Corsica highlight the tensions between centralization and regional autonomy in France, and the ongoing struggle to preserve cultural diversity within the country.
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