New Caledonia has made history with the surprise election of its first female congress president – a change that comes amid ongoing civil unrest in the French Pacific territory. Veylma Falaeo, a moderate candidate from the Ocean Awakening party, is set to bring a new perspective to a congress that’s been led by pro-independence leaders for the past five years.
Falaeo’s election marks a departure from the leadership of Roch Wamytan, of the pro-independence FLNKS party, who was a prominent critic of France’s management of New Caledonia.
