Macron in Corsica: reactions of nationalists The Corsican nationalist elected official Gilles Simeoni denounced Emmanuel Macron's "condescension and contempt". The French president had previously shown his firmness on Wednesday in Bastia against the nationalists in charge in Corsica, an island, which according to the head of state, is more than ever 'in the heart of the Republic'. SOUNDBITES of Gilles Simeoni and Jean-Guy Talamoni