the essential
If we have only been voting since 8 a.m. this Sunday morning in mainland France, the offices have been open for a long time in certain overseas territories, due to the time difference. What are the first results of the legislative elections in overseas territories and what trends are emerging?
Abstention down everywhere
Participation promises to be historically high for these anticipated legislative elections and the figures from overseas confirm this trend. In Guadeloupe, more than one in three voters traveled (33.56%), which represents an increase of more than 8% compared to the 2022 elections. The mobilization gap is even more striking in comparison with that of the European elections which only mobilized 13.25% of voters.
In Martinique, at 5 p.m., the turnout was 25.67%, up 10 points compared to 2022. At the same time, in Guyana, the prefecture “estimates it at 28.8%”, a score two points higher than that of the previous legislative elections. In Réunion, the estimates are even more striking since turnout would amount to 37.48% at 5 p.m., according to France Info, almost 12 points above that observed in 2022. According to the latest estimates, turnout is also up in Polynesia (33.47%), Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (51.38%) and Mayotte (16.4% at 12 p.m.). Only Wallis and Futuna sees abstention increase at 6 p.m. with a turnout estimated at around 77%, down one point.
In New Caledonia, an election marked by the particular context
In the New Caledonian archipelago, the vote was extremely well attended with participation jumping by almost 30% compared to 2022 (from 32.51% to 60.02%). It is legitimate to think that the electoral reform project proposed by Emmanuel Macron has caused this overmobilization. Its effects are also felt in the atmosphere of tension surrounding the vote in the Indian Ocean territory.
A rare incident occurred at the Houaïlou town hall, which was blocked by a car wreck, a concrete block and branches. As a result, the town hall is closed and none of the eight polling stations in the commune have been able to open.
In the 1st constituency, the deputy of the presidential majority Nicolas Metzdorf, in favor of a forceful passage of the reform of the electoral body, collects 39.81% of the votes according to the provisional results communicated by the High Commission. He will face in the second round the independence candidate, Omayra Naisseline, credited with 36% of the votes. In the 2nd constituency, it is an independentist candidate who is in a favorable vote with 44% of the votes ahead of the local president of the Republicans-LR, non-independentist, Alcide Ponga, at 36%. He would be the first independence candidate elected in New Caledonia.
\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\udde8 The first round of the French legislative elections was disrupted in the polling stations of the commune of Houaïlou in New Caledonia. According to the Outre-mer channel La Première, unknown persons blocked the entrance to the town hall with a car and set it on fire.
Cet… pic.twitter.com/RWPCdQgBeF— Pascal Laurent (@Pascal_Laurent_) https://twitter.com/Pascal_Laurent_/status/1807396192940150789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Firsts in Polynesia
The first deputy of the new legislature is known! This is Moerani Frébault, a candidate close to the presidential majority who triumphed in the first round against the incumbent, the youngest member of the previous assembly, Tematai Le Gayic (New Popular Front). He gathered 54% of the votes, exceeding by only 12 votes the threshold of 25% of registered voters required to be elected in the first round. The autonomist candidate is also the first native of the Marquesas Islands to be elected deputy.
The outgoing and the left in an excellent position
In the four constituencies of Guadeloupe, four left-wing candidates in the lead. Olivier Serva in the 1st constituency with 51.25% of the votes, Christian Baptiste in the 2nd (41.33%), Max Mathiasin in the 3rd (36.21%) and Élie Califer (PS) in the 4th (57.9%) %). Note all the same: the presence of two National Rally candidates in the second round in the 2nd and 3rd constituency with Laurent Petit (15.3%) and Rody Tolasi (25.9%) respectively.
In Guyana, two affiliated New Front Popular candidates came out on top: outgoing Davy Rimane and Jean Victor Castor, who both won more than 60% of the vote. However, they will compete in a second round having not reached the minimum threshold of 25% registered. In Martinique, again four left-wing candidates. And this time, all are outgoing and are presenting themselves with the investiture of the New Popular Front. In the 1st constituency, Jiovanny William received 56.56% of the votes; 50.79% for Marcellin Nadeau in 2nd; 37.28% for Johnny Hajjar in the 3rd and 63.61% for Jean-Philippe Nilor in the 4th. In Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, it is also an incumbent who comes out on top with 41% of the votes, the Modem deputy Frantz Gumbs. Same thing in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon with the outgoing Stéphane Lenormand in the lead with 43%.
