France mulls New Caledonia electoral reform ahead of key vote
The future of New Caledonia's electoral system is up for debate as the French Senate examines a constitutional reform that would broaden the roll of eligible voters ahead of provincial polls in the French overseas territory.
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Some 17,000 kilometres from the New Caledonian capital Nouméa, French senators made various changes to the government's proposed reforms to the territory's electoral system last week, and are due to adopt them in a formal vote on 2 April.
The elections – due by mid-December – are crucial for New Caledonia, where the regional provinces hold a large proportion of the territory's powers.
The national government's proposals aim to expand the electoral roll for the provincial elections has so far proved a sticking point in discussions on the future status of the archipelago.
Currently reserved for certain people who have been living on the islands since before 1998 as well as their descendants, the next elections would be opened to people with at least ten years' residence in New Caledonia.
The change, which requires an amendment to the French Constitution, could allow an extra 11,000 people to vote.
Impasse
The fact that the electoral roll has been frozen for more than 25 years means that almost one in five voters has been excluded from elections, which would run the risk of rendering the next ballot unconstitutional.
According to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who has travelled extensively to the region, residents need to "correct a distortion that is not in keeping with the exercise of the right to vote in a territory of the Republic".
But pro-independence senator Robert Xowie, who has repeatedly denounced what he calls a "murderous" and "colonialist" approach to the territory, declared: "This bill confirms the adage 'divide and conquer'".
The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (Flinks), an umbrella coalition of pro-independence movements, is opposed to the electoral reforms and last week demanded their "definitive withdrawal".
However, a motion to reject the bill tabled by the Flinks group at the French Senate on Tuesday was overwhelmingly defeated.
With negotiations between loyalists and pro-independence groups at an impasse, pro-independence parties are also calling for mediation "to guarantee the impartiality of the State and encourage the resumption of discussions" on the institutional future of the archipelago.
Meanwhile protests against a disputed tax reform are ongoing, fuel depots remain blocked and a recovery plan for the crisis-hit nickel industry is struggling to get off the ground.
'Impartial'
During last week's Senate debate, several senators stressed the importance of parliament remaining "impartial".
A number of the house's amendments aimed to facilitate dialogue, including extending the window for constitutional reform to be suspended from July to 10 days before the next elections, provided an agreement is reached.
For the constitution to be amended, the proposed text must be approved by both houses of parliament before going before a special joint session where it must win a three-fifths majority.
Read also:
- Why are talks between Paris and New Caledonia’s rival groups deadlocked?
- Macron's visit to New Caledonia shows Paris' concern over Chinese influence
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