What is Jospin's plan for Corsica?

Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's plan would grant the Mediterranean island its first steps towards devolution, with a limited degree of self-government. Corsica has suffered more than 20 years of political violence involving separatist paramilitaries.

Corsican deputies in the island's assembly have already cautiously welcomed the plan, which would allow them to pass some of their own laws from 2004.

There would be a two-year transition phase during which regulatory powers would be devolved, Corsican language teaching made more extensive and a limited right to adapt certain French laws tested in the assembly.

Depending on the success of this phase the government would then introduce constitutional changes in 2003-2004 to make permanent these legislative powers.

Why does Chevenement oppose it?

Interior Minister Jean-Pierre Chevenement has a traditional vision of the French Republic. He advocates a strong state, and is an ardent supporter of French republican values. In an interview in Le Monde newspaper, Mr Chevenement said he did not want to see created in the Mediterranean "an island ruled by an underworld that spends three-quarters of its energy settling accounts and internal battles".

For Mr Chevenement, the plan, which would give special treatment to Corsica, would be in breach of the French constitution and could give ideas to other regions of France, such as Brittany and the Basque areas.

He has also voiced concern that not enough has been done to secure guarantees from the Corsican nationalists that they will end their violence.

How popular is the plan?

French public opinion is divided over Corsican devolution: 41% think Mr Jospin has found a satisfactory compromise between nationalist demands and the national interest; 34% think he acted under nationalist pressure; 49% of the population wanted Mr Chevenement to stay in his post, despite his opposition to the plan. Only 24% wanted him to resign.

In Corsica, people are generally in favour of the process, but there are still concerns about it, and not all identify with the nationalist position.

Has it been tried before?

It is the first time that a French government is trying to take measures in favour of more autonomy for the island. France has traditionally been a centralised state and is unwilling to give support to anything that might resemble or lead to separatism. Until recently, governments had tended to ignore nationalist demands.

But the February 1998 killing of France's top representative in Corsica, Claude Erignac, brought the island's problems into the government's list of urgent priorities.

Lionel Jospin's proposal represents a real change of attitude by the French Government and would bring France more closely into line with some of its European Union neighbours.

What are its chances for success?

It is difficult to say whether the plan will succeed. The recent resurgence of violence in Corsica has come as a severe embarrassment to the prime minister, who hopes to have a bill ready for presentation to the National Assembly by the end of the year. Nationalists have shown a commitment to the agreement, and its success will depend on how willing Corsicans themselves are to make it work.

What if it fails?

The failure of the plan would be a serious blow for Lionel Jospin, who has taken a big political risk over it. But Corsicans have four years to make it happen, and this gradual approach may give Mr Jospin the time he needs to win political acceptance of the plan.