[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n
French Interior Minister G\u00e9rald Darmanin said his country was ready to discuss Corsica’s “autonomy” following violent protests in recent days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Darmanin was on the Mediterranean island last week in a bid to quell tensions in anti-government protests that erupted when a prominent pro-independence jailed activist was severely attacked in a French prison.<\/p>\n
Darmanin spoke with elected leaders in Lorsika and promised “an unprecedented round of discussions” to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
“We are ready to go to autonomy, that’s where I said it,” he said in an interview with Corse Mati.<\/p>\n
Gilles Simeoni, head of the island’s executive council, welcomed the offer but said “Darmanin’s words should be followed up with concrete actions”.<\/p>\n
Anger in Corsica erupted when island independence activist Yvan Colonna, convicted of murder, was attacked in a prison in Arles, mainland France.<\/p>\n
Colonna is serving a life sentence for the 1998 murder of French Prefect Claude ignrignac – The prisoner has remained in a coma after being attacked by another prisoner, authorities in France say.<\/p>\n
Students, unions and nationalist groups in Corsica have blamed Paris for the attack, as Colonna has long appealed to serve her sentence in Corsica.<\/p>\n
Until a few months ago, France had granted him the status of “prisoner of special interest” but the removal of this has not calmed the protesters.<\/p>\n
More than 100 people, including 77 police officers, were injured in fierce clashes between protesters in Bastia, the island’s center.<\/p>\n
Darmanin has acknowledged some of the state’s responsibility for the Colonna attack, but said criticism of the protests was “excessive”.<\/p>\n
The decision to soften France’s historic control over Corsica, the Mediterranean island of 330,000 inhabitants, would be unprecedented.<\/p>\n
Activists demand that France allow more control of the island over taxes, language and employment.<\/p>\n
French presidential candidate Yannick Jadot said earlier that he was in favor of “full Corsica autonomy”, while right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen said the island “should remain French”, according to Euronews.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n top channel
\n<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n