[2] The initiative was pushed by nationalists on the island, who won a majority of seats in the 2015 territorial elections, who argued that the division of Corsica into separate departments produced "nests of clientelism".

[1] On 1 January 2018, the two departments were dissolved, with the capital based in Ajaccio and an advisory "chamber of territories" in Bastia composed of local elected officials alongside the assembly.

A second nationalist list, "Core in fronte" representing Rinnovu, was presented by Paul-Félix Benedetti, supporting a self-determination referendum to restore an independent Corsican state and attacking a disorderly "mafia society" on the island.

(REM),[5] while the National Front (FN) presented a list, "Rassemblement pour une Corse républicaine", led by Charles Giacomi.

Valérie Bozzi, LR mayor of Grosseto-Prugna-Porticcio, led the list "Voir plus grand",[6] with the unofficial support of the party,[7] while Jean-Martin Mondoloni led a regionalist right list, "La voie de l'avenir, a strada di l'avvene".

Though Jean-Martin Mondoloni and Valérie Bozzi, the leaders of the two lists on the right, made contact the evening of the election,[12] an alliance was considered unlikely, given the degree of the nationalists' success in the first round.