Xavier Lédée, a young candidate

The suspense was unbearable. Fortunately, the president of the territorial council put an end to it on Friday, October 16. In a “selfie video” recorded from the terrace of the Territorial Collectivity’s headquarters, Xavier Lédée announced that he would run for re-election. This comes five months before the first round of the territorial elections, scheduled for March 14, 2027.
This is, of course, no surprise. The format and timing of the announcement, however, were certainly unexpected. That’s because Xavier Lédée made his candidacy official in a video thanking people for the birthday messages he had received. With his phone in hand, held at arm’s length, the president—not yet a candidate—“sincerely and warmly” thanked the followers of his Facebook page who had written to him the day before to wish him a happy birthday. After this brief introduction, Xavier Lédée moved on to the main topic of his post: “A pivotal year is beginning for me, culminating—as you might expect—in the March 2027 elections. This video is an opportunity to officially announce that I will be running for reelection.”
Following this announcement, a press release was distributed via email by the group of the president—now a candidate—Unis pour Saint-Barthélemy. The document states that the incumbent president’s candidacy “reflects the commitment to see through the projects launched since 2022.” It cites environmental preservation, improving residents’ quality of life, and managing economic development. “Defending the island’s identity, consolidating its autonomy, and promoting its heritage are among the project’s priorities,” the statement reads.
By announcing his candidacy early, Xavier Lédée is already setting the stage for a lengthy election campaign in Saint Barthélemy. During this period, he will have to juggle two roles, which will require careful management of communications—particularly regarding the use of the Territorial Collectivity’s media, whether print or digital.
In 2022, the “Unis pour Saint-Barthélemy” slate led by Xavier Lédée received 26.78% of the vote in the first round of the territorial elections. This placed it behind the 27.07% received by Marie-Hélène Bernier’s “Saint-Barth Action-Équilibre” and the 46.15% received by Romaric Magras’s “Saint-Barth d’Abord.” An alliance formed between the first and second rounds with Marie-Hélène Bernier’s group—which had agreed to let him assume the presidency in the event of a victory—enabled Xavier Lédée to succeed Bruno Magras as head of the Collectivité. In fact, in the second round, the Lédée/Bernier coalition won by 65 votes (50.8%) over “Saint-Barth d’Abord” and Romaric Magras (49.2%). However, the cordial understanding between the two elected officials was short-lived.
For Xavier Lédée, the March 2027 election will mark his third attempt to become president of the Collectivité at the head of his own slate.