New Caledonia: “Historical” Agreement – New State is created

A year after the serious unrest in New Caledonia, a “historical” agreement was reached during negotiations on the institutional future of the French overseas area in the South Pacific. Representatives of France and the political camp of Neukaledonia signed an agreement on Saturday in Bougival west of Paris, as several participants said. Details were initially not communicated.

“A historical agreement was signed,” it said in a communication of the supporters of a remaining of New Caledonia with France and the presidential party. Without responding to the content, they assured that the agreement enables the “opening of the electorate for numerous Kaledonians”. They “respected the sovereign willpower”, which the population had expressed in three independence referenders in 2018, 2020 and 2021, they emphasized.

At the same time, they referred to “concessions” in the form of a “transformation of the New Caledonic Community into a state, integrated into the national unity”. “It is signed. A status within France. With the French, the French remain,” said MP Nicolas Metzdorf, who rejected independence from France.

According to information from the AFP news agency, the agreement introduces a “state of New Caledonia” to the French constitution. There is said to be a new Caledonian nationality and the state could be recognized by the international community.

In May last year there were massive unrest in the French overseas area. A total of 14 people were killed. The trigger was a planned voting right reform, according to the mainland france, which are supposed to take part in elections earlier than before. The canals, which make up more than 40 percent of the population, feared a reduction in their influence.