New Caledonia polls open in first local vote in the French territory since 2019
Summary
New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific, held provincial elections for the first time since 2019. The vote will decide local leaders ahead of talks with France about the territory's political future, especially the question of independence.Key Facts
- About 192,000 voters will elect 76 councillors for three provincial assemblies in New Caledonia.
- Fifty-four elected councillors will join the territory’s congress, which can make local laws.
- The congress members then choose up to 11 people for the executive government.
- The main pro-independence group rejected a deal with France that would have created a Caledonian state but ended future independence votes.
- Past referendums (2018, 2020, 2021) showed most voters want to stay with France; however, some pro-independence groups boycotted the last vote.
- New voting law added about 10,575 native-born residents, including indigenous Kanaks, to the voter list.
- Riots in 2024 over voting rights changes resulted in 14 deaths and large property damage.
- France has sent 2,400 law enforcement officers to maintain order during the election period.
- Negotiations on New Caledonia’s political status with France are set to resume next month aiming for an agreement by year-end.
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