The assembly of the French island of Corsica yesterday overwhelmingly endorsed a devolution deal giving it powers which are unprecedented in one of the European Union's most centralised states.
Socialist Prime Minister Mr Lionel Jospin reached the breakthrough agreement with Corsican nationalists last week following months of talks to end two decades of separatist violence on the Mediterranean island. The agreement passed by 44 votes to two, with five abstentions.
The accord, conditional on a lasting peace being reached, envisages a phased transfer of power over the next four years, eventually allowing the assembly to adapt laws passed by the Paris parliament to the situation in Corsica.
The conservative RPR party of President Jacques Chirac has voiced concern, and left-wing Interior Minister Mr Jean-Pierre Chevenement has said he would not speak in favour of Corsica's new statute in the National Assembly.