With seven competing lists for the primary spherical of municipal elections, Kourou is the municipality in Guyana with essentially the most candidates, forward of Cayenne, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and Matoury, the three most populated cities within the Amazon division. Does the air of finish of reign which floats within the area metropolis, led for 2 phrases by the mayor (numerous proper, ex-Horizons) François Ringuet, have one thing to do with it?
Suffering a downgrade, notably economically, Kourou misplaced 2,000 inhabitants between 2016 and 2022, based on INSEE, and confirmed a unemployment price of 26.1% in 2022. Indicators marking “the failure of municipal policy over the last twelve years”tackles the previous mayor (numerous left) Jean-Etienne Antoinette (1996-2014), candidate once more after being crushed in 2020.
This lack of attractiveness is partly defined by Kourou’s dependence on the area trade. Since the Nineteen Sixties, the town has lived to the rhythm of launches and its financial well being rests on this single pillar, producing 1,500 direct jobs and 9,000 oblique jobs for Kourouciens. However, area exercise decreased between 2021 and 2024 with the European launcher disaster. Despite the present rebound, as evidenced by the seven launches in 2025 and the ten scheduled for 2026, Kourou is struggling to diversify its financial material.
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https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2026/03/05/municipales-a-kourou-le-deficit-des-finances-publiques-au-c-ur-de-la-bataille-pour-la-mairie_6669653_823448.html