A referendum on becoming an autonomous
overseas territory
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...
was held in
French Guiana
French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas. ...
on 10 January 2010.
[French Guiana (France), 10 January 2010: Conversion to Overseas Territory]
Direct Democracy The proposal was rejected by 70% of voters who prefer full integration in the
French central state. The turnout was 48%.
[ A simultaneous referendum was rejected in ]Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
.Martinique (France), 10 January 2010: Conversion to Overseas Territory
Direct Democracy
Background
French President
Nicolas Sarkozy proposed the referendum after visiting the
Caribbean island of
Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
in June 2009.
The French
overseas departments of
Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
and
Guadeloupe had suffered prolonged
general strikes
A general strike refers to a strike action in which participants cease all economic activity, such as working, to strengthen the bargaining position of a trade union or achieve a common social or political goal. They are organised by large coa ...
in early 2009, due to lower
wages and
standards of living than mainland France.
[
French Guianan voters were asked whether they wanted more power to be given to the local government based in Cayenne.][ French Guiana was an overseas region and an overseas department of France, regulated by the article 73 of the French Constitution, giving it the same political status as metropolitan departments and regions. The proposed change would have led to it becoming an ]overseas collectivity
The French overseas collectivities (''collectivité d'outre-mer'' or ''COM'') are first-order administrative divisions of France, like the French regions, but have a semi-autonomous status. The COMs include some former French overseas colonies ...
, regulated by the article 74 of the French Constitution, similar to French Polynesia.[La Guyane et la Martinique refusent plus d'autonomie](_blank)
Le Figaro, 11 January 2010
Results
References
External links
RFI: Martinique and Guyana vote on more autonomy
Referendums in French Guiana
2010 in French Guiana
2010 referendums
January 2010 events in South America
Autonomy referendums
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