Anti-Independence Camp Wins New Caledonia Vote After 54% Turnout
New Caledonia held its first provincial election since 2019 on Sunday, with parties opposed to independence from France winning the lead in provisional results.
The vote is a crucial test for the French Pacific territory's political future, with the question of breaking away from France remaining the central issue [184455]. Turnout reached 54.42 percent in the French Pacific territory, and the election took place peacefully [184459][184455]. The vote was originally planned for 2024 but was delayed after major riots that erupted when plans to expand voting rights to thousands of non-Indigenous residents sparked deadly unrest [184459][184455].
The election will decide the balance of power before new negotiations with France on the territory's status [184135]. At the heart of the contest are two critical issues: decolonisation and changing demographics, which will determine whether France maintains its strategic foothold in the Pacific [184452]. The results set the stage for new talks with France on the territory's future [184459].