During her visit to Mayotte, Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally, attacked the reliability of the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) for stating that there were 320,901 inhabitants on the island as of January 1, 2024. She compared her belief in the INSEE data to believing in the existence of a mythical creature called the Dahu. This criticism was part of her broader attack on the government, accusing it of “lies” regarding issues of illegal immigration and security in the French department of Mayotte. Le Pen claimed that there were likely double the number of people on the island compared to the official population figures.
The theme of challenging official statistics and accusing the government of neglecting Mayotte resonates strongly with Marine Le Pen’s base and positions her as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. By portraying the situation in Mayotte as chaotic and blaming the government for a lack of support, she is able to rally support among local officials and residents who feel marginalized and underserved. Le Pen’s call for an investigation or information-gathering mission to determine the actual population of Mayotte compared to official figures further solidifies her support amongst extreme right-wing politicians and individuals who feel ignored by the government.
In Mayotte, the last general census by INSEE was in 2017, with the next set of data not expected until late 2025. In the meantime, estimates are used to approximate the population. Local politicians argue that these estimates significantly underestimate the number of illegal immigrants from the Comoros and mainland Africa who have settled in Mayotte. They believe that INSEE’s figures do not reflect the reality on the ground and lead to discrepancies in the provision of public services such as schools, water, roads, and waste collection. The distribution of water bottles during a severe drought in 2023 and discrepancies in the number of households connected to fiber optic networks provide examples of this mismatch.
Marine Le Pen’s visit to Mayotte and her criticism of official statistics and government policies have struck a chord with local officials and residents who feel neglected and marginalized. By amplifying concerns about illegal immigration, lack of resources, and infrastructural challenges on the island, she is leveraging these grievances to bolster her own political agenda. As she gears up for the 2027 presidential election, Le Pen’s focus on Mayotte and her promise to address the population discrepancies and lack of support from the central government position her as a champion of the people against the entrenched political elite. This narrative resonates with her supporters and may galvanize further backing for her political campaign.
