IN FOCUS - Ghjuventú Indipendentista

Orlagh McCauley
International Officer
Ógra Shinn Féin

Continuing our theme of looking at our international comrades, we look at the youth movement in Corsica, Ghjuventú Indipendentista.

Since 1770 France has occupied Corsica. The island west of Italy and above Sardinia was sold to the French authorities in 1764 and since then the Corsican people have been in a struggle to regain their independence. Ghjuventú Indipendentista (GI) was created in 1999 by a group of young Corsican people who felt that young people had no voice in the Corsican Liberation Struggle. Their main goal is the end of French occupation and the recognition of the Corsican Nation.


GI gives full support to the Corsica Nazione. This senior party was created in 1992 and WHICH received approximately twenty percent of the seats in the Corsican Assembly. The French authorities have refused to negotiate with Corsica Nazione on many occasions due to the armed struggle between the National Front for the Liberation of Corsica (FLNC) and the French authorities. In 2004 this party joined with eight other nationalist parties to create Unitá Naziunale.

On July 6th, 2003 a referendum was held in Corsica to create a new national collective assembly to replace the two departments which were created in 1970 with minimal powers. The Corsican people would have also benefited from a greater degree of autonomy from the French and greater recognition for the Corsican language. Unfortunately the referendum was defeated with 54,990 voting in favour compared to 57,180 votes against.

GI is organised in the University of Corsica and in Corsican towns. Their goals are the defence of students and young people, to keep alive Corsican history and traditions and to promote the national language, culture and social activities. The university is an important site of struggle for the Corsican people. It was only in 1981 that the French allowed the University to reopen. Before then people were denied the right to third level education in their homeland and anyone seeking to further their education had to leave Corsica to do so.

GI hold an annual Scontri Internaziunali in which young political groups from across Europe travel to Corsica to show their support for GI and the Corsican struggle. The aim of this event is to show the Corsican and French the support the nationalist movement in Corsica receive. It is also an opportunity for these youth groups to compare struggles and learn from each other.