Page 29 - IB July 2020

France and the Pacific France and the Pacific

With campaigning constrained by the coronavirus crisis, from Guadeloupe; Ericka Bareigts from Reunion; and Annick
FLNKS leaders are angered by decisions taken by the outgoing Girardin from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon). On Lecornu’s ap-
Philippe government that aid the anti-independence cause pointment, many territorial leaders were critical that the new
(such as a government decree allowing the No campaign Minister comes from France, though he responded: “I wasn’t
to use the French flag in campaign posters and leaflets, in born in an overseas territory, but the French Republic is one
breach of French electoral law). FLNKS spokesperson Daniel and indivisible.”
Goa said: “Here in New Caledonia, the question before us Lecornu has visited the Pacific in his past role as Secretary
is not a choice between France and New Caledonia. It is to of State for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition. He led the
prepare for the exit from France.” French delegation to the 2017 Post-Forum Dialogue in Apia,
In contrast, New Caledonian President Thierry Santa said: “I as delegations from French Polynesia and New Caledonia at-
welcome the opportunity for Loyalists to use the blue, white tended the annual meeting as full members of the Forum.
and red flag during the referendum campaign.” With conser- When Lecornu spoke with Islands Business in 2017, he
vatives hoping to finish the self-determination process before highlighted France’s support for urgent action on climate
the 2022 Presidential elections, Santa also supported the de- change, in contrast to Australia and the United States: “If the
lay of this year’s referendum from 6 September to 4 October, door to the Forum is open, it’s because the policies taken up
noting “this delay does not remove the possibility of another by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, the head
referendum in 2021.” of State, have created a longing for France. This is because
A crucial shift in the independence camp is a change of there are a number of large nations which address the issue
heart from the Parti Travailliste (PT – Labour Party). Two years of climate change and global warming, but without as much
ago, PT and the USTKE trade union confederation called for enthusiasm, as much energy and maybe even courage as
non-participation in the 2018 referendum, believing the vote France.”
should be restricted to the colonised Kanak people alone. Lecornu also stressed the major changes within the Europe-
After significant defeats in recent local elections, PT members an Union (EU), following the June 2016 Brexit referendum in
have now voted to reverse this policy, and will campaign for the United Kingdom: “Brexit will create something new in the
a Yes vote in the looming referendum. Given the closer than Pacific. France, which is a large Pacific nation, will henceforth
expected result in 2018, the mobilisation of working-class be the only member nation of the EU in the region. The three
voters and PT supporters in the Loyalty Islands will assist the overseas collectivities French Polynesia, New Caledonia and
Yes campaign. Wallis and Futuna – the pays et territoires d’outre-mer as we
In the face of this renewed mobilisation, a new alliance call them – are the incarnation of Europe in this part of the
“The Loyalists” was launched on 8 July, to campaign for a No world after Brexit.”
vote in October’s poll. This group brings together members of With France’s former Ambassador to Fiji Sujiro Seam now
six parties: the governing Avenir en Confiance coalition (led serving as the Head of the EU Delegation to the Pacific region,
by Sonia Backes and President Thierry Santa) as well as the France tells its European partners that the three Pacific
extreme-Right Rassemblement National, Tous Calédoniens dependencies are a gateway for EU engagement with the
and the new Génération NC party, established as a breakaway Pacific. In turn, Paris tells the Forum that its collectivities
from the once dominant Calédonie ensemble (CE). provide an opening into Europe (though it’s not clear how the
This latest attempt to transcend divisions on the Right will membership of French Polynesia and New Caledonia in the
hold together till October, but papers over divergent views EU’s network of Overseas Countries and Territories provides
over the best way forward for New Caledonia. Since the a mechanism for independent island nations to engage with
2018 referendum, Calédonie ensemble has lost seats in 2019 Europe).
provincial and 2020 municipal elections. CE leader Philippe On his appointment, Sébastien Lecornu set out his priori-
Gomes is not part of the new Loyalist alliance but still has ties: “A health crisis to manage, an unprecedented economic
support amongst non-Kanak voters and, along with CE’s recovery and the need for a successful environmental transi-
Philippe Dunoyer, holds a seat in the French National Assembly tion.”
in Paris – an advantage in discussions with the incoming Prime He also tweeted that “the overseas territories are a trea-
Minister and his new Overseas Minister. sure for France.” Many Kanak and Maohi leaders fear that
Paris is coveting the ocean resources of the 7 million square
New Overseas Minister kilometre EEZ in the Pacific – strategic resources that are
As well as a foreign minister, all French governments have claimed by the French State but belong to the peoples of the
a minister responsible for relations with the “overseas col- non-self-governing territories under international law.
lectivities” in France’s far-flung colonial empire. In the latest Outgoing Overseas Minister Annick Girardin is the new
Cabinet reshuffle, there is a new Overseas Minister, 34-year- French Minister for Oceans and will lead the Comité inter-
old Sébastien Lecornu. ministériel de la Mer (CIMER), a ministerial committee for the
For more than a decade, all Overseas Ministers have been oceans to engage with the Forum’s Blue Pacific framework.
chosen from one of France’s colonial dependencies (Marie-
Luce Penchard, Victorin Lurel and George Pau-Langevin nicmac3056@gmail.com

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