Referendum on the status of Mayotte in April 2009
Tuesday 13 May 2008
The french government will hold a referendum in Mayotte in March-April 2009 to ask if they want Mahorais community départementale - current status of Mayotte, French island since 1841 - becomes a department-region.
Law N° 2001-616 of 11 July 2001 provides, in effect, the status of Mayotte "départementale community", and reaffirms in its first article that Mayotte is part of the Republic and can not cease to belong without the consent of its population.
The Organic Law of 21 February 2007 on the overseas (called DSIOM) provides that "from the first meeting following its renewal in 2008, the General Council of Mayotte can, by an absolute majority of its members and vote, adopt a resolution on changing the status of Mayotte and his accession to the system of departments and overseas regions defined in Article 73 of the Constitution. "
So, as the law of 21 February 2007, a resolution on the departmentalization of Mayotte was presented by the President of the General Councilors general of the island, at the first meeting of the new General Council on 18 April . It was adopted unanimously and the government promised to consult the inhabitants of Mayotte in the twelve months. " Indeed, in the meantime, the resolution must be presented to Parliament (Senate and Assembly of First National). Only after a positive vote of the Parliament that the referendum will be launched in Mayotte.
It is planned to hold a major information campaign to Mahorais to explain clearly what exactly this change of status.
Mahorais if so decided, Mayotte would become the fifth overseas department french and 101 th french department. The community is also a region overseas, but there is only one meeting, not two (the General Council and Regional Council) as in other departments overseas regions (Reunion, for example).