President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will not push forward with a contentious voting reform in New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory, in light of recent violent protests. During his visit to the main island, Macron emphasized the need for local leaders to engage in dialogue to seek an alternative agreement for the territory’s future.
The proposed reform, which triggered riots resulting in casualties and significant damage, aimed to broaden voting eligibility to include more French residents, sparking concerns among the indigenous Kanak population about potential dilution of their political representation and impact on future independence referendums.
Macron stated that the reform would not proceed amidst the current unrest, allowing time for tensions to ease and discussions to resume. However, he maintained that the outcome of the last independence referendum, favoring remaining part of France, would stand. New Caledonia, governed by the 1998 Nouméa Accord granting increased autonomy, has seen repeated referendums on independence, with varying results.
Macron’s meetings with pro- and anti-independence leaders aimed at facilitating a new consensus, which could then be put to a referendum. The proposal to extend voting rights to long-term French residents in New Caledonia, put forward by the National Assembly in Paris, ignited the recent violence.
Macron described the unrest as unexpected and pledged support to restore order, including keeping a French force stationed in the territory. Commercial flights to Nouméa remain suspended, with evacuations of foreign nationals reported due to the volatile situation.
The unrest in New Caledonia has caused extensive damage and disruption, with protests escalating into violence and looting. Macron emphasized the need to dismantle barricades and restore order before lifting the state of emergency. French prosecutors clarified that none of the fatalities resulted from actions by French security forces. Macron described the situation as an “unprecedented insurrection movement” that caught authorities off guard.
He assured continued support, including the deployment of a 3,000-strong force from France, to maintain stability, even during the Paris Summer Olympics if necessary. Meanwhile, the airport in Nouméa remains closed to commercial flights, with military flights assisting in evacuating stranded tourists. The ongoing crisis underscores the complexity of the political situation in New Caledonia and the challenges in reconciling differing perspectives on its future status within the French Republic.
