Lead
Voters in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia cast ballots on Sunday in the archipelago’s first provincial elections since 2019, after the vote was delayed as talks stalled over its political future. The election, initially planned for 2024, will determine the balance of power in New Caledonia ahead of fresh negotiations with France on the territory’s status, with independence remaining the defining political issue.About 192,000 voters were eligible to elect 76 councillors for three provincial assemblies – 40 in the South Province, 22 in the North Province and 14 in the Loyalty Islands, as reported by multiple outlets. Fifty-four of those elected will become members of the Pacific archipelago’s congress, the territory’s main governing institution and the only body authorised to pass local laws. Members of congress will then elect up to 11 members to the executive branch known as the collegial government.
Security was high at polling stations across the archipelago. About 2,500 police officers were deployed to secure and monitor polling stations on election day, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle, citing the New Zealand public broadcaster RNZ. The Guardian – World reported that France had deployed 2,400 law enforcement officers to New Caledonia. Voting began at 8am local time on Sunday (21:00 GMT Saturday), with long queues reported outside a polling station at the Hotel de Ville in the capital Noumea before voting started, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Coverage comparison
The four outlets whose coverage was examined – Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, France 24 – English, and The Guardian – World – all reported the election as the first provincial vote since 2019, delayed from 2024. All noted the election’s significance in determining the balance of power ahead of negotiations with France. The outlets differed slightly on the number of eligible voters: Al Jazeera and The Guardian put the figure at about 192,000, while France 24 – English stated 192,500. Deutsche Welle reported roughly 190,000 individuals were eligible. All outlets agreed on the 76 councillors to be elected across three assemblies.Reporting on the security deployment also varied slightly. Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle both reported 2,500 police deployed, with Al Jazeera attributing the figure to RNZ. The Guardian – World reported 2,400 law enforcement officers deployed, without specifying a source. France 24 – English mentioned additional security deployed but did not give a specific number.
France 24 – English provided a partial turnout figure: an hour before polling stations closed at 6pm (0700 GMT), turnout stood at 54.42 per cent, down slightly from 58.49 per cent at the same point in 2019, according to local authorities. No other outlet reported turnout.
Key Claims
- Polls opened in New Caledonia for provincial elections on Sunday, with voting beginning at 8am local time (21:00 GMT Saturday).
- About 192,000 to 192,500 voters were eligible to elect 76 councillors for three provincial assemblies – 40 in the South Province, 22 in the North Province, and 14 in the Loyalty Islands – as reported by Al Jazeera, France 24 – English, and The Guardian – World.
- The election will determine the balance of power in New Caledonia ahead of negotiations with France, as stated by all four outlets.
- The main pro-independence group rejected a deal with France intended to bring stability to the territory, according to France 24 – English and The Guardian – World. The so-called Bougival Accord would have created a Caledonian state and established a Caledonian nationality enshrined in the French constitution, but would have scrapped any future referendums on independence.
- Three referendums held in 2018, 2020, and 2021 returned majorities in favour of remaining part of France, as reported by Al Jazeera and The Guardian – World, although pro-independence groups boycotted the third vote, which was held during the Covid pandemic.
- A law approved in May added about 10,575 previously excluded “native-born” residents to the electoral roll, including more than 4,000 people with so-called “customary civil status”, which denotes Kanaks, as reported by France 24 – English, The Guardian – World, and Deutsche Welle. The change increased the number of eligible voters for Sunday’s poll, after the electoral roll had been frozen under a landmark 1998 agreement.
- France has deployed 2,400 law enforcement officers to New Caledonia, as reported by The Guardian – World.
- 2,500 police were deployed to secure and monitor polling stations, as reported by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle, with Al Jazeera attributing the figure to RNZ.
- The turnout stood at 54.42 per cent an hour before polls closed, as reported by France 24 – English, citing local authorities.
- The election was delayed due to violent unrest between Indigenous Kanaks and French loyalists, as reported by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle. France 24 – English and The Guardian – World attributed the delay to stalled talks over New Caledonia’s political future. Deutsche Welle reported that prior to the 2024 vote, France announced its intention to give voting rights to thousands of non-Indigenous residents, sparking riots that left 14 dead and caused more than €2 billion in damage.
- France’s role in the islands' affairs has been a divisive issue for decades, as reported by Deutsche Welle.