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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Julien Mazzoni in Nouméa

New Caledonia Congress elects pro-France president after political crisis

Alcide Ponga, President of the 18th government of New Caledonia
Alcide Ponga, President of the 18th government of New Caledonia Photograph: Delphine Mayeur/AFP/Getty Images

Weeks after its first ever pro-independence government collapsed, New Caledonia has named a French loyalist as its new president as the territory seeks to rebuild from deadly riots and destruction that battered the economy.

Alcide Ponga, from the Le Rassemblement party, was elected president by the newly installed executive in Congress on Wednesday. Ponga’s party is affiliated with French right-wing party LR, Les Républicains. The loyalists are in favour of keeping New Caledonia within France.

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