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Photo: referendum vote (twitter.com/BFMTV)
The residents of New Caledonia did not support the sovereignty and independence of France in the referendum on October 4. This is the second referendum on the independence of overseas possession of France with a special status.
Le Monde newspaper writes about this.
According to the referendum results, 53.26% of the inhabitants of the overseas territory expressed “no” the independence of the metropolis. 46.74% supported the sovereignty of France. At the same time, a third referendum is possible in 2022.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the result of the vote of confidence in the republic.
“The Caledonians have confirmed their wish that New Caledonia remain in France. This is a testament to the trust in the republic. Only together will we build the future of New Caledonia,” Macron said.
The French president asked the people of New Caledonia to “look to the future.”
“The future is the final stage The Noumea Agreement… A third referendum is possible. The decision rests with their elected representatives in Congress. The State, true to its word, is willing to organize it, if it so decides.“, – said Macron.
Recall that in the 2018 referendum, 56.7% of New Caledonia residents voted against independence.
French President Emmanuel Macron thanked the Caledonians for deciding not to secede from France in a referendum.
The referendum is part of the agreement, which was concluded after negotiations between the authorities and supporters of the idea of separation between the indigenous population, the Kanak people.
The 1998 Noumea Accord provides for up to three referendums on New Caledonia’s self-determination. The second and third referendums can be organized if local residents speak out against independence in the first.
New Caledonia is an archipelago in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, an administrative-territorial entity of France with a special status. The population is about 270 thousand inhabitants. New Caledonia’s main sources of wealth and budget income are tourism, nickel deposits and financial injections from the metropolis.
The outer islands receive approximately € 1.3 billion annually from the French government. France sees this area as a strategic political and economic site in the region.
New Caledonia is represented in the French Parliament by two deputies and two senators. In addition, the territory has its own parliament, appoints the members of the executive body. Local authorities have powers in some policy areas.
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