President Emmanuel Macron is attending a ceremony in Touho, in the northern part of New Caledonia, on July 25, 2023. He has proposed to invite all parties from New Caledonia to Paris for a meeting to rekindle the dialogue on the archipelago’s institutional future, according to his entourage on May 12. The New Caledonia has been experiencing tensions due to a deep economic crisis and problems in the nickel industry, with daily demonstrations and several arrests taking place.
Emmanuel Macron is emphasizing his commitment to dialogue in the context of the future path he called for in Nouméa last July. He has requested that all representatives be invited to Paris for a meeting with the government. Macron has also assured that he will not immediately convene the Congress of Parliament after the vote on Tuesday by the National Assembly on the bill to expand the electoral body for the provincial elections in New Caledonia, a reform that has been heavily contested by the archipelago’s independence movement.
The constitutional reform, already passed by the Senate, is under examination on Monday and Tuesday by the National Assembly, where the government hopes for an identical adoption. The legislation would need to be passed by all parliamentarians meeting in Congress at Versailles, with three-fifths of the votes. The potential date for the Congress has not been announced by the executive, although the current bill includes an effective date of July 1, 2024, necessitating a prior vote by Parliament.
The government’s proposal aims to include residents who have been living in the area for at least ten years in the electoral body. This is intended to address the issue of a “freeze” on the electoral body, which currently disenfranchises nearly one in five voters in provincial elections. Macron had previously urged the stakeholders to reach a comprehensive institutional agreement during his visits to Nouméa in July 2023 and at the Elysée in September 2023, but so far, no success has been achieved.
The situation in New Caledonia has been marked by a deep economic crisis and ongoing challenges in the nickel industry, leading to daily protests and arrests. Macron’s proposal to convene all representatives in Paris for a dialogue on the archipelago’s future institutional arrangements is seen as a potential way to address the current tensions. The reform to expand the electoral body for provincial elections, if passed, will not immediately lead to the convocation of the Congress, providing an opportunity for further discussions and negotiations.
Overall, Macron’s engagement with New Caledonia underscores the importance of dialogue in resolving conflicts and moving towards a sustainable institutional framework. The proposed constitutional reform, which aims to address the disenfranchisement of residents in provincial elections, reflects efforts to promote inclusivity and address longstanding issues. The invitation to Paris for discussions signals a willingness to engage with all stakeholders and find a way forward in the midst of ongoing challenges and tensions in New Caledonia.
