Augusto Rollandin (born 17 January 1947) is a French pharmacist‑politician from Corsica. He has held multiple elected offices at local, regional, and national levels, most notably serving as President of the Corsican Regional Council and as a Senator representing Corsica.
Early life and education
Rollandin was born in Calvi, Haute‑Corse, France. He studied pharmacy, obtaining his professional qualification before entering public life.
Political career
- Local politics: He was elected mayor of Calvi in 1979, a position he retained until 2002.
- Corsican Assembly: Rollandin served as a member of the Corsican Assembly from 1992 to 2015, representing the constituency of Haute‑Corse.
- President of the Regional Council of Corsica: He first held the presidency from 1998 to 2004, succeeding Jean-Paul Sartre’s successor in the post. After a hiatus, he was re‑elected in December 2015, leading the council until July 2018 when he was succeeded by Gilles Simeoni following the 2018 Corsican autonomy referendum.
- French Senate: Rollandin was elected to the Senate of France in the 2014 senatorial elections, representing the department of Haute‑Corse. He served until 2020.
Party affiliation
Throughout his career, Rollandin has been affiliated with centre‑right parties. He was a member of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), which later became The Republicans (Les Républicains).
Notable positions and controversies
During his second term as regional president, Rollandin opposed the 2018 Corsican autonomy referendum, arguing that the proposed statute did not meet constitutional requirements. His stance contributed to political tensions on the island and was a factor in the subsequent shift of leadership to the nationalist coalition led by Gilles Simeoni.
Personal life
Beyond politics, Rollandin has maintained his professional background in pharmacy. He is married and has children, though personal details are kept largely private.
Legacy
Rollandin’s long tenure in Corsican and French politics positions him as a prominent figure in the island’s modern governance, noted for his advocacy of French national unity in the context of Corsican autonomy debates.