New Caledonia government falls, headache for Manual Valls

While the Kanak independence movement continues to demand full self-determination, many French officials still see extending voting rights as essential for democratic fairness in the territory. © Charlotte Antoine-Perron/AP

The first New Caledonian government led by a pro-independence leader has fallen after the resignation of members from the loyalist Caledonia Together movement on Tuesday, against the backdrop of an economic and social crisis exacerbated by recent riots.

In a resignation letter addressed to Louis Mapou, New Caledonia's pro-independence Kanak president, seen by French news agency AFP, Caledonia Together cited disagreements with the head of government, particularly regarding the financing plan for New Caledonia's reconstruction following the violent events that began on May 13.