Between the 5^th and the 20^th January 2010, 1,200,000 MSA’s affiliated members voted to elect the district delegates that will be their representatives for the 5 years to come. With a total participation rate of 39%, results confirm the insured members’ attachment to their MSA social protection system.

The mobilization for this vote is quite significant taking into account the delicate economical and social context where the agricultural crisis affect all sectors and all categories of MSA’s affiliated members (farmers, salaried workers, pensioners).

After the record rate of 2005 which amounted to 50%, MSA regains the average participation rate of elections of the last 50 years. This rate is quite satisfactory when considered the fact that it concerns professional elections which breakdown by college is as follows:

-          1^st college : 47.44% (independent farmers)

-          2^nd college : 28.8% (salaried workers)

-          3^rd college : 44,6% (labour providers)

Through their commitment everywhere in France, the candidates have facilitated the democratic expression of the MSA affiliated members and the 26,000 new delegates -which have been elected at the end of January - will appoint the Boards of Administration of the MSA funds – in the weeks to come. This electoral process will end on 20 May 2010 with the election of the Central Council and the designation of the national President.

The new representatives who are conscious of the current difficulties expressed by the affiliated members during this electoral period must now take up the challenge to defend the MSA’s values of mutualism and must get mobilized, together with the personnel of the funds in order to develop all the actions aiming at improving social protection and life conditions of the French agricultural world.