Page 20 - IB June 2019

Politics

Nationale Kanak et
Socialiste (FLNKS)
maintained its sup-
port in the face of a
strong campaign by
anti-independence
parties. However, with
voluntary voting and
a turnout at 66 per
cent, the FLNKS will
need to re-mobilise
the support it gained
in last year’s poll on
self-determination, in
order to win the next
referendum under the
Noumea Accord, like-
ly to be held in 2020.
Finally, a new party
named Pacific Awak-
ening won strong
support from the large
Wallisian and Futu-
nan community liv-
ing in New Caledonia.
It’s an early sign that
Polynesian migrants
are seeking to define
their place and speak
in their own voice, as
people debate the fu-
Voting for New Caledonia’s provinces. Photo: Nic Maclellan ture of the Melanesian
nation.
Twenty-eight in-
coming members of
Elections sharpen independence the 2019-24 Congress
come from anti-inde-
contest in New Caledonia pendence parties or
coalitions: the conser-
vative Avenir en Con-
fiance alliance with
18 seats (16 from the south and 2 from the north); Calédonie
ensemble (7); and Eveil océanien (3). The 26 pro-independence
members – an increase of one from the last elections in 2014 –
come from: UC-FLNKS (9 from north and islands); UNI Nord et
Iles (9); FLNKS Sud (6); Parti Travailliste (1); and Dynamique
Autochtone (1).
By Nic Maclellan
Bloodbath on the Right
LOCAL elections for New Caledonia’s three provinces and national The key outcome of the elections was the drastic decline in
Congress have again polarised debate over the future of the support for Calédonie ensemble (CE), which had dominated local
French Pacific dependency. While voters focussed on domestic politics over the last decade.
issues of leadership, health, education and employment, the is- The party is led by Philippe Gomès, one of New Caledonia’s
sue of independence remained a crucial element of the contest, representatives in the French National Assembly and a long-time
just six months after New Caledonia held its 2018 referendum loyalist to the French Republic. He is joined in Paris by fellow CE
on self-determination. members Philippe Dunoyer in the National Assembly and Gerard
The elections were marked by three significant features. Poadja in the Senate. CE was the largest party in the previous
Firstly, a coalition of anti-independence parties, Avenir en Congress elected in 2014, CE’s Philippe Michel was president of
Confiance, crushed its key opponent on the Right, the Calédonie the Southern Provincial Assembly and CE’s Philippe Germain was
ensemble party, which will lead to a hardening of debate in the President of the Government of New Caledonia.
Congress in coming months. There will be a change of leader- But the party’s message of ongoing dialogue with the indepen-
ship in the Southern Provincial Assembly and Government of dence movement was poorly received by the conservative elector-
New Caledonia. ate, spooked by the strong mobilisation of the Kanak people in
Secondly, the independence movement Front de Libération last year’s referendum (early polling suggested a strategic defeat

20 Islands Business, June 2019