Legislative Elections in France and Overseas Territories
Carlos Martens Bilongo's Victory in Sarcelles
Supporters and petit fours were waiting patiently at the Valérie Watteau neighborhood center in Sarcelles. At 10:45 p.m., the phones started ringing with news of victories in various municipalities. Carlos Martens Bilongo, re-elected deputy of the New Popular Front (NFP), announced his win amid cheers from his supporters. Bilongo emphasized the significance of his victory as a rejection of Macron's policies and the far right. He pledged to campaign in constituencies facing a second round.
National Rally's Breakthrough in Martinique and Guadeloupe
In Martinique, the National Rally (RN) made history by qualifying for the second round of legislative elections for the first time. Grégory Roy-Larentry, a liberal nurse, secured 9.88% of the votes. Despite this, the outgoing deputy Jean-Philippe Nilor of the NFP leads with 63.18%. Similarly, in Guadeloupe, RN candidates Laurent Petit and Rody Tolassy qualified for the second round with 17.30% and 25.90% of the votes, respectively. However, they trail significantly behind the NFP candidates.
Political Dynamics in Guyana and New Caledonia
In Guyana, the NFP's outgoing deputies, Jean-Victor Castor and Davy Rimane, lead with 62.78% and 60.21% of the votes, respectively. However, they did not secure the required 25% of registered voters to win in the first round. In New Caledonia, loyalist candidate Nicolas Metzdorf leads with 39.81% of the votes. He will face independentist Omayra Naisseline in the second round. The election saw a high turnout, reflecting the archipelago's keen interest in its political future.
Autonomist Success in Polynesia
In Polynesia, Moerani Frébault, a center-right autonomist candidate, won in the first round with 54% of the votes. This marks the first time a native of the Marquesas Islands will enter the National Assembly. The autonomist candidates have shown significant success, while the independence party, supported by the NFP, struggled to meet its commitments, impacting its performance in the elections.
- Carlos Martens Bilongo's victory in Sarcelles is seen as a strong opposition to the current policies of President Macron and a rejection of the far-right ideology. His win highlights the support for the New Popular Front in various municipalities.
- The National Rally's progress in Martinique and Guadeloupe is notable, although they still lag behind the New Popular Front candidates. This development indicates a shift in the political landscape of these regions.
- The political dynamics in Guyana and New Caledonia show a mix of strong support for the New Popular Front and significant competition from independent and loyalist candidates. The high voter turnout in New Caledonia underscores the importance of this election for the archipelago.
- In Polynesia, the autonomist candidates have made significant gains, with Moerani Frébault's victory being a historic moment. The independence party's failure to meet its main commitment of lowering the cost of living has affected its performance in these elections.
