Corsican nationalism is gaining strength. Could it soon cause problems for France?

The second round of the French regional election was surprising in many ways. Surprising, because the strategy of the ‘Front Républicain’ worked well against the Front National. But Socialists are now in the awkward position of having zero seats in two important regions that until recently they governed.

Even if the Socialists were able to save face by winning a few regions, their defeat was a big one, because in the last regional election five years ago, they won every region in mainland France (except for the Alsace). For the left to lose in Île-de-France, the region where Paris is located, is indeed quite a dramatic blow for them.

Another interesting point about these regional elections – which has gone almost unnoticed outside France amid all the hype about Le Pen – was the result in Corsica. For the first time ever, a regionalist party has won in this insular region.