Emmanuel Macron, the French President, has given his assurance to not forcibly implement a disputed election reform immediately in New Caledonia, following a brief 18-hour visit intended to alleviate a political crisis which incited fatal riots. Located in the Pacific and key to the French military, the territory is rich in nickel reserves and has been in turmoil since May, when Macron’s administration advanced a constitutional amendment to extend the local election voting rights.
Speaking at a late-night press conference in Nouméa, New Caledonia’s capital, after talks with local government figures, activists, and executives, Macron stated, “I guarantee that we won’t be thrusting this reform into the current circumstances forcibly.” He indicated he and his team will take several weeks to reinstate peaceful discussions, with the aim of reaching an extensive arrangement. This anticipation pertains not just to the electoral issue, but the broader institutional future of New Caledonia too.
There is some resistance to this plan from New Caledonia’s native Kanak people, who believe it dilutes their political power in comparison to the non-indigenous populace that came during the colonial era. Pro-independence factions view this as a hindrance to their objective of gaining independence from France. Macron evaded the query regarding potential delays or cancellations of a late June congress, meant to cement the constitutional modification heralding the election reform.
The French President hopes his surprise trip to New Caledonia, a considerable 1,500km east of Australia with a population of about 270,000, will bridge the gap between supporters and detractors of independence, following his government’s decision to invoke a state of emergency to quell rioting and theft. Macron, despite not finding a solution to the crisis prior to his departure, did moderately soften his stance by committing to “reassess the situation” in a month, providing space for potential agreement negotiations with local political groups. Three French senior civil servants experienced in New Caledonian affairs will remain behind to work towards a resolution.
A fragile peace has returned to Nouméa’s streets thanks to a large-scale deployment of the police and military services, yet the city’s airport and several businesses remain shut. The recent unrest has claimed six lives, including two law enforcement officers, and resulted in economic damage estimated at €1 billion by insurance companies. Nickel mines have experienced damage and currently lay idle, causing a surge in worldwide nickel prices.
President Macron has vocally denounced the disorder, describing it as an extraordinary insurgent movement marked by considerable organisation and aggression. He made it clear to groups advocating for independence that there was no chance of retracting the results of the previous three referendums held in the region, all of which voted against independence.
The turbulence started after French legislators approved expanding voting rights in provincial elections in New Caledonia to any individual residing there for over a decade. Mr Macron proceeded with the new measure in spite of failing to reach an agreement with New Caledonian factions.
Should this constitutional change be finalised, it would supersede the 1998 Nouméa Accord which provided political equilibrium to New Caledonia partially by limiting voting rights to the indigenous Kanaks, making up about 40 percent of the population, and residents living there before the accord.
The French President suggested that a comprehensive agreement addressing voting rights, local governance structure, citizenship privileges and the future of the struggling nickel mines was paramount. He also hinted at the potential for a fourth referendum. “My desire is to present New Caledonians with such an agreement for them to vote on,” Mr Macron expressed.
Roch Wamytan, a high-ranking member of the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, demanded that Mr Macron retract the proposed constitutional amendment. “The president must absolutely remove this revision so that we can have a brighter outlook,” Mr Wamytan stated during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ©The Financial Times Limited 2024