Macron’s Réunion visit falls flat as islanders demand action on health, farming woes Article by Outre-mer La Première

French President Emmanuel Macron departed Réunion on 23 April 2025. The following day, the French news outlet Outre-mer La Première published a critical assessment of the presidential visit, highlighting widespread disappointment over what many viewed as an unproductive and rushed trip to the island. Caliber.Az reprints the adapted version of the article.

Amidst a health crisis due to the chikungunya outbreak and a struggling agricultural sector, expectations were high, but the president’s “whistle-stop” visit mostly led to disappointment.

Macron’s fleeting appearance, lack of substantial announcements, and avoidance of sensitive topics have left a bitter taste among many islanders. The visit, which came against the backdrop of a chikungunya epidemic and post-cyclone Garance agricultural distress, has been described by some as nothing more than a "pretext" ahead of the Indian Ocean Commission summit in Madagascar.

Health hopes dashed

Réunion is currently grappling with a chikungunya outbreak, and the population had hoped for decisive action, including additional medical support and a broader vaccination campaign. On April 22, Gérard Cotellon, head of the Regional Health Agency, confirmed the death of an infant due to the virus. Meanwhile, President Macron attended a mosquito eradication operation in Saint-Benoît but steered clear of contentious issues.

“I caught chikungunya—it was tough. We were expecting concrete measures, but we got nothing. I was bitten by a mosquito a week ago, and I’m still ill. We were hoping for answers, but there were none at all,” said Jocelyne, interviewed at the Chaudron market on April 23 morning.

“Disappointing” measures for the farming sector

Farmers also expressed dissatisfaction. Olivier Fontaine, head of the regional agricultural chamber, had expected a strong signal from Macron, but was left disappointed. The sector faces an estimated €160 million in damages.

Following a tense exchange with Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard and a meeting with Macron himself, many farmers felt ignored. “No figures, no announcements. For me, his visit was pointless. Still, it’s something that he came out to the farms to see how things really are,” said one farmer at the Chaudron market.

The only concrete pledges made by the president included emergency aid to be unlocked from June and additional financial support for the sugarcane sector to offset post-cyclone costs.

Free zone extended in the east – a small victory

Despite criticism, one local leader came away satisfied. Patrice Selly, mayor of Saint-Benoît and president of the Cirest, secured an extension of the free zone to include the Cirest area. This means that new businesses in the region will benefit from more favourable tax exemptions—up to 80%, as in Mayotte and French Guiana, compared to the previous 50%.

A “pretext” visit ahead of the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)

Some critics have dubbed Macron’s trip a mere “pretext,” with the primary goal being his participation in the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Madagascar. His visit was part of a wider regional tour intended to reaffirm France’s Indo-Pacific strategy amid rising geopolitical tensions.

During his visit, Macron announced the deployment of an additional 200 troops to Réunion, increasing the local military contingent (FAZSOI) from 1,600 to 1,800. Yet for some, it still falls short.

“Two hundred more soldiers are better than nothing, but it’s not enough. We need at least 2,000. The world is in a bad way, and we’ll have more problems in the years ahead,” said Gérard, a local who followed the president’s movements.

Disillusionment among locals

Macron’s whirlwind visit also seems to highlight a growing political apathy among Réunionnais. Few of those interviewed had paid much attention to the presidential trip, revealing a broader sense of disconnection from national politics.