Book retraces Congress of Elected Officials' origins

In a book of more than 500 pages published by K.Éditions, Claude Lise retraces the birth and practice of the Congress of Elected Officials, the body he conceived 25 years ago. The book was born from the third Congress and was inspired by Lise’s reflections while preparing a speech for the opening of that event in 2022.

Lise’s political background and goals

Former president of the General Council, former senator, and former president of the Martinique Assembly, Lise defends a constitutional reform to allow the overseas territories to choose a “customized” status. He emphasizes the need for a democratic process in shaping the legal and political framework of these regions.

Origins of the book and key legal documents

The idea of the book came to Lise when he was preparing his speech for the opening of the third Congress of Elected Officials of Martinique on July 12, 2022. He re-examined his documentation on the “Lise-Tamaya” mission from 1999 and the Orientation Law for the Overseas Territories of December 2000. This law retained two of his proposals: the creation of the Congress of Elected Officials and a democratic procedure for institutional and status evolution for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique.

Book’s content and structure

Lise presents his book as a work that includes both factual elements and his reflections as a politician deeply involved in institutional issues over the last 25 years. The narrative follows the steps of this quarter of a century, including the Lise-Tamaya mission, the drafting of the Orientation Law, the Constitutional Council’s decision, and the various Congresses and consultations held over the years.

Historical and personal insights

The book recounts scenes from Lise’s experiences, such as a meeting in February 1999 with Guadeloupean independence leaders in a secret location. It is completed by eleven appendices, including the Cayenne Declaration, the Martinique Manifesto, and manuscripts by Dr. Pierre Aliker and Aimé Césaire, as well as a photo album.

Current institutional issues in 2025

The last two chapters, which Lise advises readers to read first along with the introduction and conclusion, provide an overview of the current situation. He outlines the resolutions from the Congress of Elected Officials in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique, including a resolution in Martinique that was validated by the Martinique Assembly in 2025.

Lise’s reservations and public opinion

Lise expresses reservations about the method used in Martinique, questioning the real impact of negotiations in Paris. He relies on opinion surveys showing that in Martinique, 41 percent of respondents want to adapt laws locally, but with conditions. In Guadeloupe, 75 percent favor a single community status.

Constitutional reforms and citizen involvement

Lise proposes deleting Articles 73 and 74 of the Constitution and replacing them with a single article for the overseas territories. He recalls that this approach was considered in 2020 and during his hearing before the ad hoc commission of the Congress of Elected Officials of Martinique of 2022-2023. He urges elected officials to better associate the population before each Congress and to adhere to the level of responsibility acceptable to the majority.

Conclusion and key message

In his conclusion, dated Schoelcher on December 20, 2025, Lise reuses the formula of Aimé Césaire on “methodical evolutionism.” He advocates for a common approach by all elected officials of the overseas territories and ends on three convictions, including the idea that “if elected officials have the duty to propose, it is up to citizens to dispose.” The book provides both the testimony of an actor and a documented chronology of this quarter of a century.