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Elected to the Senate in September 2020, Micheline Jacques is seeking a second term. A 54-year-old former school principal, she is a territorial councilor for the Saint-Barth d’Abord group, a member of the Les Républicains party, and has served as chair of the Senate’s Overseas Territories Delegation since 2023. Her alternate is business leader Jérémy Laplace, the current president of the Multiprofessional Economic Chamber.
(Only electors take part in the Senate elections. In Saint-Barthélemy, these are the nineteen territorial council members, the representative, and the senator.)
How would you assess your term in office?
I have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to my record. I have a thorough understanding of how the institutions work. I have strong support from the Senate majority and an equally strong network thanks to my role as chair of the Senate Delegation for Overseas Territories. This has allowed me to build relationships with government ministries and establish contacts there that proved useful when it came to managing the energy crisis, for example. But also at the European level. As for Saint Barthélemy, its status has been preserved throughout my term. Being the guardian of that status is the primary mission of the senator from Saint Barth. The balance has been maintained.
Why am I running for reelection?
By following in Michel Magras’s footsteps, I continued along a path he had clearly laid out. A path that led me to the chairmanship of the Senate Delegation for Overseas Territories. Saint Barth has few major issues with the central government, but whenever they arise, they are matters of great importance that require time and technical expertise to be examined and resolved. The major issue of this term was the renewal of the energy agreement, and it was by no means a simple matter. So I am running for re-election, drawing on the experience I’ve gained and a strong track record. Saint Barthélemy has maintained its strategic position within the institutions. The next term will focus on social taxation—for both businesses and individuals. This is an issue we can no longer avoid. We’ve already done quite a bit of work on tax issues. Even though the minister announced he wouldn’t touch the subject this year, we’re on borrowed time. So the work we’ve begun with local businesses is very important.
How are you approaching this election against two other candidates?
I’m confident. I’m running on the strength of my track record and with a great deal of confidence. Today, I want to be judged on the quality of my work, not on political alliances or debates. I’m presenting my track record not only to elected officials but also to the public, for whom I’ve worked to improve their daily lives. I receive expressions of gratitude from the public, and it is this support that gives me the strength to run again.
What will be the key priorities for the next term?
A senator does not present a platform in the same way as the president of a local government. It can sometimes take several years to pass legislation. I myself submitted a bill that was unanimously adopted by the Senate (Organic Bill on Health Issues in Saint Barth, adopted by committee in March 2023; bill to adapt the law governing France’s overseas territories in June 2026). I’m fighting against regulatory mismatches. We know that France is buckling under the weight of regulations. So when our status allows us to avoid certain regulations, that’s a good thing for us. The issue we need to address is the one aimed at regulating commercial recreational boating. There is also the issue of over-saturation in the airline market, with more and more airlines arriving in Saint-Barthélemy. This is a complex issue with international implications that is causing concern among local carriers. It is not a new issue, but it requires a long-term effort.
In a recent statement, the president of the Collectivité reiterated his preference for a senator who is not also a territorial councilor. What are your thoughts on this?
Serving as both a territorial councilor and a senator has not hindered either of my roles. I was often in Paris, but I maintained constant daily contact with the island—both with the public and with elected officials, in meetings and on committees. You have to be organized and resilient enough to keep up a steady pace. I’ve never been afraid of hard work. And on certain issues, being a local elected official allows you to embody a cause.
If you’re not re-elected, do you plan to run in the regional elections?
For now, I’m focused on the September 27 election. Besides, the territorial election isn’t a personal venture.
