Riots in New Caledonia and demonstrations against the high cost of living in Martinique, what does that say?

Jeanne Maisiat looks back on the big news of 2024 on which the listeners of “ ça dit quoi ” reacted. Thursday January 2, riots in New Caledonia and demonstrations against the high cost of living in Martinique.

“Hi it’s Jeanne, what does it say?”

New Caledonia faced violence in the spring. They began when a reform of the electoral body was voted in the National Assembly. 14 people died during these weeks of riots which caused at least two billion euros in damage. The reform project was suspended in June, before being abandoned on October 1 by Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

It is a movement against the high cost of living which began in September in Martinique. A mobilization which also led to violence. There, prices are 40% higher than in mainland France. On October 16, the State signed an agreement to reduce the prices of 6,000 food products by 20%. But this agreement was “suspended” in December due to censorship from Michel Barnier’s government.

“What does it say?”, a podcast to listen to from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. on franceinfo.fr, on the franceinfo WhatsApp channel, on TikTok or on all podcast platforms:

A particular desire, a piece of news that questions you or made you react? Introduce yourself and send a voice to “That says what” to participate in a future episode: “Hi Sarah, hi Jeanne!”