Key facts
- New Caledonia began delayed provincial elections on Sunday, June 28.
- The elections are held under heavy security with approximately 2,400 law enforcement officers deployed.
- The vote was postponed from 2024 due to violent unrest.
- The outcome will shape future talks with France on the territory's political status.
- 192,000 voters are electing 76 councillors for three provincial assemblies.
New Caledonia, a French-ruled territory in the southwest Pacific, began delayed provincial elections on Sunday under heavy security. The vote, initially planned for 2024, was postponed due to violent unrest and stalled talks over the territory's political future. Approximately 192,000 voters are electing 76 councillors for three provincial assemblies, with 54 of those becoming members of the territory's main governing institution. The outcome is crucial for upcoming negotiations with France regarding New Caledonia's status, with independence remaining a key issue.
The elections follow the rejection of a proposed deal by the main pro-independence group, which would have established a Caledonian state but ended future independence referendums. Despite three past referendums favoring remaining part of France, the independence movement retains significant support, particularly among the indigenous Melanesian Kanak population. A recent law expanded the electoral roll, adding thousands of previously excluded residents.
The territory experienced deadly riots in 2024 following a previous plan to extend voting rights, which left 14 people dead and caused substantial damage. France has deployed around 2,400 law enforcement officers to ensure security. Negotiations on the territory's future are expected to resume next month with the aim of reaching an agreement by year's end.