More specifically, it was a coalition[1] of the two Corsican nationalist parties active on the island;[2] that is, the moderately autonomist Femu a Corsica and the strongly committed separatist Corsica Libera (which won respectively 17.62% and 7.73% of the vote in the first round of the 2015 French regional elections).

Corsican nationalism calls for the island's autonomy in France, if not outright independence, following a movement developed since the 1920s with the establishment of the regionalist Corsican Action Party (Partitu Corsu d'Azzione/Parti Corse d'Action) in the town of Bastia.

By 2012, polls showed more support for increased devolution within France (51%)[7] than for outright independence (stuck at 10–15%).

Gilles Simeoni won the election for the position of Mayor of Bastia with 35.34% of the vote.

Jean-Guy Talamoni, leader of Corsica Libera, said: "It’s been a 40-year-long march to arrive here.