Corsican Leader Abandons Regional Power for Local Mayor Race
The rumors had been swirling since late summer in nationalist circles. Now it's official: Gilles Simeoni is abandoning the presidency of Corsica's executive council to run for mayor of Bastia in the 2026 municipal elections.
In an interview Wednesday, December 17 with France 3 Corse ViaStella, the autonomist leader made his choice clear. After ten years heading the territorial institution, he's choosing the local route, the concrete work, the daily concerns of Bastia's citizens.
A Calculated Return to Roots
"This comes from a carefully considered choice, shared by those with whom I analyzed the situation," Simeoni explains. This time, he promises, he'll be a full-time mayor. No more juggling multiple offices like during his first brief stint leading the Mediterranean city.
History repeats itself, with one major difference. On March 30, 2014, leading a mixed coalition of right and left, Gilles Simeoni had already wrested Bastia (43.34%) from his eternal rival Jean Zuccarelli (34.89%). But the Bastia adventure was cut short: a year later, in December 2015, victory in territorial elections called him to other horizons.
Pierre Savelli: The Loyal Placeholder
This announcement signals the sidelining of outgoing mayor Pierre Savelli, a loyal and discreet man who had taken over. Simeoni paid him a rather brief "tribute," noting that this decision was made "in agreement with the interested party." A diplomatic formula that barely masks the realities of nationalist power.
Savelli, a respected figure but lacking particular charisma, served as "transition mayor" for nearly a decade. His sidelining was programmed from the start, everyone knowing that Simeoni would one day return to reclaim his stronghold.
A Bet on the Movement's Future
This return to municipal roots reveals a broader strategy. Facing the challenges awaiting Corsica, between demographic pressure and economic transformations, Simeoni is betting on local anchoring. Bastia, the island's gateway port and second-largest city, constitutes an ideal laboratory for experimenting with autonomist policies.
The gamble isn't without risks. Abandoning the executive presidency means leaving the field open to other ambitions within the nationalist movement. But it's also returning to the very essence of political engagement: serving citizens directly, far from institutional grandeur.
For Bastia and its residents, Simeoni's announced return promises an electrifying municipal campaign. Will the former president convince voters that after ten years wielding territorial power, he still has the energy and vision to transform his native city?