A Decolonisation Test for France in the Pacific: The Third Referendum on Independence in New Caledonia Part 2: What Next?

Abstract

In December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, New Caledonians were faced with a third referendum provided for by the Nouméa Accord. Part 1 of this In Brief miniseries covered that controversial vote, brought forward by President Macron, which was held despite a boycott by independence parties. The result was that 96.5 per cent of those who voted were against independence, yet 56 per cent of eligible voters abstained. Part 2 discusses the next phase in resolving New Caledonia’s political future. Can New Caledonians reach a new accord or revise the 1998 document? Also analysed is the role of Polynesian migrants, whose interests are represented by the Oceanian Awakening (OA) political party.