REPORTAGE
Second leg of the presidential trip in the Indian Ocean. Emmanuel Macron arrives Wednesday in Reunion in a tense climate. Last year, the movement of "yellow vests" had a great popularity on the island. The locals regularly question the authorities about the cost of living, which is too high. The price gap with the metropolis and the arrival of the president pushed the unions to call for a strike on Thursday.
"We would like to live like metropolitans"
"Everything is expensive in Reunion, even yogurts! We would like to live like metropolitans," says Gervine, one of the first roundabouts last year when the "yellow vests" were born. Yogurt, so, but also a wide range of products. Vehicles, for example, are 30 to 40% more expensive. The difference is due to transport to the island but also and especially to a tax on imported products: the granting of sea.
This tax is a real nightmare according to Jean-Yves, former "yellow vest" and entrepreneur in the building: "It's simple, when you see a French advertisement for a truck 'from 7.000 euros', in Reunion, he is 3 or 4 times more expensive, how do you expect the little craftsman to come out? "
Civil servants receive overpayment
A difference which explains why, in Reunion, the civil servants profit from an overpayment. A process that pulls prices upwards, according to Marc: "Supermarkets take into account these overpayments and therefore life is expensive for everyone, whether you are an official or not."
In any case, it will be very difficult to disrupt the visit of Emmanuel Macron: 1,500 police officers will ensure the safety of the presidential trip.