New Caledonia rejects independence from France

[Vergennes]

Early results show the "No" vote against independence for New Caledonia is in the lead.

The "No" vote against independence for New Caledonia is leading with about 90 per cent of ballots counted in the French territory, local television reported.

Public broadcaster La1ere Nouvelle Caledonie reported that 57 per cent of votes counted so far were against the Pacific archipelago gaining independence, with 43 per cent in favour.

The vote is being held under a 1998 agreement that sealed a peace process between pro-independence forces, mainly based among the native Kanak community, and pro-French forces largely backed by the descendants of European settlers,

Local results varied widely in the ethnically diverse territory. More than 90 per cent of votes in some mainly Kanak areas were for "yes," while other communes with a mainly European population voted strongly for "No."

Voter turnout was high, with La1ere putting it at 79.5 per cent in the areas where counting had been completed.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to make a statement about the outcome of the vote around 2300 AEDT.

The voting comes 165 years after the south Pacific archipelago was first colonised by France.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/new-caledonia-rejects-independence-from-france

 

[Vergennes]

The French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "immense pride" in a televised address following Sunday's independence referendum in New Caledonia, where voters overwhelmingly chose to remain part of France.

We're still waiting for the results of one polling station,but 56,9% of the votes counted rejected independence from France against 43,1% favouring independence. The turnout was pretty high with 79,7%.

There was one specificity to this vote,only those who lived in the island since at least the 31th of december 1994 were allowed to vote. 35K people were not allowed to vote.

 

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

I went there on a cruise a few months back.

Noumea and Lifou Island sure sucked and girlfriend got food poisoning so we couldn't go to Isle of pines.

Ive never seen such lazy men before. 4 guys around a coconut cart. I ask for 1 coconut and they had to fetch an elderly lady to cut it!

A colony not worth keeping, I bet social security expense on France would be quite high.

 

[war&peace]

I think they have more benefits with being part of France then being independent but it also depends how much demographics have been changed by France.

 

[Nein]

I went there on a cruise a few months back.

Noumea and Lifou Island sure sucked and girlfriend got food poisoning so we couldn't go to Isle of pines.

Ive never seen such lazy men before. 4 guys around a coconut cart. I ask for 1 coconut and they had to fetch an elderly lady to cut it!

A colony not worth keeping, I bet social security expense on France would be quite high.

For France, New Caledonia is a strategic place for them they have access to the Pacific along with French Polynesia.

 

[GHALIB]

so they stay with france.

 

[war&peace]

what i dont understand is why the ''Europeans'' voted no?
Btw,are they also ''fat'' like the Polynesians?

how come? any comprehension issues? I think you misread.

Local results varied widely in the ethnically diverse territory. More than 90 per cent of votes in some mainly Kanak areas were for "yes," while other communes with a mainly European population voted strongly for "No."

 

[Vergennes]

For France, New Caledonia is a strategic place for them they have access to the Pacific along with French Polynesia.

A French footprint on the pacific,not to add the island's important natural ressources. (Including its EEZ)

Win win,they keep French state benefits and the strategic importance for France but what i dont understand is why the ''Europeans'' voted yes?
Btw,are they also ''fat'' like the Polynesians?

I think you misread. The Europeans and others inhabitants of the island voted in majority against independence,while the indigenious population,the "kanak" voted somewhat massively to independence from France.

 

[T-123456]

A French footprint on the pacific,not to add the island's important natural ressources. (Including its EEZ)



I think you misread. The Europeans and others inhabitants of the island voted in majority against independence,while the indigenious population,the "kanak" voted somewhat massively to independence from France.

Damn,ok i get it now.

A French footprint on the pacific,not to add the island's important natural ressources. (Including its EEZ)



I think you misread. The Europeans and others inhabitants of the island voted in majority against independence,while the indigenious population,the "kanak" voted somewhat massively to independence from France.

Then,why would the ''kanak'' want independence?

 

[KediKesenFare3]

Not really. The indigenous people voted against France.

 

[Vergennes]

Damn,ok i get it now.


Then,why would the ''kanak'' want independence?

Well you name it,the "Kanak" were discriminated during the colonial rule,so there's a strong anti France sentiment among the indigenious pop.

Even as of today,there are strong inequalities between the "kanak" and others,regarding economy and access to education,housing,jobs etc.,they still feel discriminated,they feel their culture is being erased.... lot of reasons like that.

So they feel independence is the way.

 

[UKBengali]

I think you misread. The Europeans and others inhabitants of the island voted in majority against independence,while the indigenious population,the "kanak" voted somewhat massively to independence from France.

Looking at wiki demographics, Canaks are 39% of the population and none of them are likely to be the 35,000 that had not lived in the Islands before 1994. That must be that around 50% of the voter base would have been Canak.
I suspect that 30-40% of the Canaks would have voted to stay with France.