New Caledonia’s non-independence parties gained ground in provincial elections on Sunday, according to provisional results, in a vote expected to shape the next round of talks with France over the Pacific territory’s future status.
The poll – the first provincial election since 2019 – took place peacefully under tight security, more than two years after deadly unrest shook the archipelago. Turnout stood at 63.71 percent, down from 66.50 percent in the previous election, according to local authorities.
