Independence leaders in New Caledonia have reacted with caution to the French government's decision to scrap a constitutional amendment on voting rights, with some fearing it's a tactical delay that sidesteps the deeper issue of the Pacific territory's political autonomy.
A constitutional amendment that would extend voting rights to tens of thousands of long-term French residents in New Caledonia ignited five months of violent protests – leading to multiple deaths, mass unemployment and over a billion euros in damages.
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier this week axed the plan, citing the need to restore calm. He told the National Assembly on Tuesday that "avoiding further unrest" was a priority.
He also postponed a local election scheduled for December for a year.
Barnier made no public commitment on extra funding for reconstruction and rebuilding that had been sought by the New Caledonian Congress.
Words, not action
The decision to suspend the voting reform, which was originally proposed by President Emmanuel Macron in June, has drawn mixed reactions.
Emmanuel Tjibaou, an indigenous Kanak MP, said Barnier's speech was a “sign” that the French state was looking to end the crisis and resume political talks.
"For the moment, I have heard the words, I am waiting for action,” he told journalists.
However some loyalists in the territory were critical of the decision to drop the voting reform, while Kanaks expressed concerns it could resurface once political tensions eased.
Kanak chiefs proclaim sovereignty over New Caledonia's ancestral lands
Loyalist politician Nicolas Metzdorf told FranceInfo radio that Barnier was giving in to violence.
"Michel Barnier is taking a step backwards for democracy; it's a disagrace for the republic," he added.
Metzdorf described Barnier's speech as "completely disconnected", with no announcement of financial support despite the territory enduring the "most serious economic, social and humanitarian crisis" in its history.
“The prime minister does not grasp the gravity of the situation on the ground,” he told broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère.
Ongoing divisions
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.
Divisions over New Caledonia policy have exposed the deeper challenges France faces in managing its overseas territories, where local populations often feel disconnected from Paris.
Macron has remained silent on the suspension of the reform, leading to speculation that he is seeking to distance himself from the backlash.
The president had previously called the amendment a "necessary step" in modernising New Caledonia’s electoral system.
