the Chiracian Léon Bertrand, 74 years outdated, relaunches himself into the battle | EUROtoday

On the banks of the Maroni River, the announcement, Monday January 19, of the candidacy of Léon Bertrand was not stunning, because the skilled right-wing man has multiplied his declarations of intent in latest months. In 2018, pressured by the courts to surrender his capabilities as councilor of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, he however introduced “the end of his life as a politician” after thirty-five years of native mandates (mayor, city president, regional councilor) and nationwide mandates (deputy, minister delegate). “I’m not going to campaign at 70”he assured when leaving his municipal capabilities. Eight years later, on the age of 74, he returned to the stage for what was the final act of his lengthy journey.

The former RPR then UMP mayor of Saint-Laurent from 1983 to 2018 presents himself with a “opening list”. It makes safety, youth – the median age in Saint-Laurent is 17 – and social cohesion the main axes of its program in a booming city which however suffers from a delay in improvement. In Saint-Laurent, solely 40% of housing is taken into account authorized by the city corridor, the remainder of the inhabitants dwelling in extraordinarily precarious casual circumstances. Half are unemployed. The metropolis is affected by violence and trafficking, notably as a result of its proximity to Suriname, a narco-state that’s the hub of worldwide cocaine trafficking.

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