New Caledonia lawmaker blames France for triggering crisis with electoral rule changes

A member of the New Caledonia Congress Marie-Line Sakilia and the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), an alliance of pro-independence political parties on the island, has blamed France for the crisis in New Caledonia.

According to Sakilia, the French state’s insistence on reforming electoral rules without local agreement is responsible for mobilizing loyalists and pro-independence groups.

The unrest in the Pacific archipelago was triggered by a bill to review electoral rules, which French lawmakers adopted on May 13 to unfreeze the electoral body ahead of local elections.

The proposed changes would grant French nationals who have resided in the island nation for at least 10 years the right to vote in local elections, raising concerns among locals about diluting the indigenous Kanak population’s vote.

‘French reform is unacceptable’

Sakilia described the reform as unacceptable, emphasizing that only natives born in the territory should have the right to vote. She criticized the security forces for what she deemed provocative and disproportionate behavior during the events, which resulted in six fatalities, including two officers from France.

Highlighting the historical context, Sakilia recalled the U.N.’s designation of New Caledonia as a non-self-governing territory under French administration in 1986, indicating its status as a territory awaiting decolonization.

She also mentioned the controversial referendum held amid the COVID-19 crisis, which she claims deprived pro-independence groups of their right to participate, thus questioning its legitimacy.

The French government’s response to the crisis included declaring an emergency and deploying additional forces to restore order. The decision to ban access to TikTok in New Caledonia sparked further controversy, with the government citing the need to counter communication among rioters.

Macron’s visit

President Emmanuel Macron paid a quick visit to the capital, Noumea, on Thursday, where he met and spoke with local representatives.

Macron’s visit to Noumea aimed to initiate dialogue with local representatives to address the crisis.

He expressed willingness to lift the emergency if roadblocks were removed and proposed talks for a comprehensive political agreement regarding the island’s institutional and economic future.