Following a night of riots and the vote on the constitutional reform project that would alter the electoral body for the end-of-2024 provincial elections, opposition parties were assessing the aftermath on May 15, with the left and right dividing along expected lines. Right-wing and far-right parties, who voted in favor of the constitutional reform project, are emphasizing the immediate restoration of order. Meanwhile, the left is calling for the withdrawal or suspension of the legislation, the permanent abandonment of a congress in Versailles seen as detrimental to dialogue, and condemning the consequences of a forced passage.
The morning after, on Franceinfo, the President of the Les Républicains (LR) group in the Senate, Bruno Retailleau, urged the state to use the tools of authority to restore public order, evoking Gaullist language by stating that “there can be no dialogue in chaos.” Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party, was more discreet, calling for the declaration of a state of emergency due to the severity of the violence. Senators such as Georges Naturel from LR in New Caledonia have praised the state of emergency and paid tribute to a gendarme who died defending the Republic.
From left to right, there are calls for the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, to take charge of the New Caledonian issue – previously under the purview of Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin – similar to past figures like Michel Rocard, Lionel Jospin, and Edouard Philippe. Questions have been raised as to why the issue left the Prime Minister’s desk, with demands for Attal to personally engage with the situation and possibly visit New Caledonia. During a government question session, the President of the socialist group in the Senate, Patrick Kanner, called for more involvement from Attal.
In the National Assembly, after advocating for the withdrawal of the legislation throughout the night, Guyanese Deputy Jean-Victor Castor has criticized the government for its role in the violence. He pointed out that the worst had occurred, with lives lost in New Caledonia, despite warnings of the major risk. Questions have been raised about why the government continued with the process despite numerous calls for withdrawal.
Overall, the events reflect a deep divide between political parties regarding the constitutional reform in New Caledonia, with the right pushing for order restoration and the left calling for a reevaluation of the legislation. The situation has escalated to lethal violence, prompting calls for a more direct involvement of the Prime Minister and highlighting the ongoing turmoil in New Caledonia.
