Sonia Lagarde, the mayor of Noumea, is a unique political figure in New Caledonia who has been in office since 2014. She is known for her non-independence stance and was a strong supporter of Emmanuel Macron during his presidential campaign in 2017. However, she recently faced criticism from loyalists for allegedly supporting the election of an independence candidate over an established political figure in the September 2023 senatorial elections. This led to her losing the presidency of the French Association of Mayors of New Caledonia in April of that year.
In the midst of a week of riots in Noumea, Lagarde called for a dialogue mission and the suspension of a constitutional reform regarding electoral eligibility. She believed that these measures were necessary to restore peace in the city. However, President Macron issued an ultimatum stating that the reform must be adopted by both chambers of Congress by the end of June, unless an unlikely agreement between independence supporters and loyalists is reached. Noumea has been one of the hardest-hit areas during the riots, with significant damage to businesses, supermarkets, car dealerships, and public facilities.
Lagarde expressed deep concern about the extent of the damage caused by the riots, which were estimated to be over 200 million euros. She highlighted the need to restore access to affected areas to assess the full extent of the destruction. The mayor emphasized the importance of cleaning up and rebuilding the city, but noted the challenges posed by the destruction of municipal workshops and vehicles. As someone who has worked tirelessly for the improvement of Noumea over the past decade, Lagarde was saddened and frustrated by the impact of the violence on the city and its residents, particularly the youth.
Lagarde admitted that she had been worried about the possibility of violence escalating for several months due to the increasingly radicalized political discourse in the region. She cited a cycle of retaliation and provocation between different political factions, leading to confrontations in the streets and aggressive rhetoric from leaders on both sides. The situation was further exacerbated by a comment made by a prominent loyalist leader during a protest, fueling tensions and animosity between opposing groups. The mayor’s concerns about the volatile political climate and the potential for further unrest went unheeded, eventually resulting in the violent outburst that engulfed Noumea.
In light of the ongoing unrest and destruction, Lagarde called for calm and emphasized the importance of finding a peaceful resolution to the political tensions in New Caledonia. She urged all parties involved to engage in constructive dialogue and compromise to prevent further violence and disruption to the community. However, with President Macron’s deadline looming, the future of the constitutional reform and the resolution of the conflict between independence supporters and loyalists remains uncertain. As the mayor of Noumea, Lagarde faces the challenging task of rebuilding the city and fostering reconciliation among its citizens in the aftermath of the devastating riots.
