Majority against the elimination of New Caledonia from France

Noumea (APA / AFP / dpa / Reuters) – In a referendum on the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, a clear majority voted against independence. After counting almost all the votes, just under 57% were against, as reported by the archipelago's public service television. About 43% voted for the division. The official result was expected in the course of Sunday (CET).

The result is a disappointment, especially for the population of Kanakas, indigenous people of New Caledonia. Many of them had long hoped to create a state. The no was not as clear as expected.

Moreover, that does not mean that the hopes of the separatists have finally died. By 2024, two other referendums are possible after the previous agreements with Paris. Currently, just under 40% of the population is Kanaken. "Kanake" means "human" in German.

About 175,000 inhabitants of the South Pacific archipelago had the right to vote. The participation was according to the preliminary figures at about 80%. Originally, the vote should have already taken place in 1998. But it was delayed again and again. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the vote.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is expected to travel Monday to the capital, Nouméa. Concerned about the unrest, the state has beefed up security forces. In some parts of Noumea, cars were burned at night (local time).

The archipelago of New Caledonia was taken over by Paris in 1853 and originally used as a convict island. Today, there are more than 280,000 residents at home – in addition to Kanaken and descendants of settlers, many immigrants from other Pacific states. Currently, the islands receive about one billion euros a year from Paris.

The FLNKS (Kanak National Socialist Front and Socialist Front / Kanaki Socialist Front) is the driving force of the independence movement. In the 1980s, New Caledonia was on the verge of civil war. There were also dozens of deaths. In the meantime, the mood has calmed down considerably. FLNKS has long been involved in the island's government.

New Caledonia is not part of the territory of the European Union. It does not pay with the euro, but with the pacific franc. In the European elections, the Neukaledonier can vote. In addition, the infrastructure of the archipelago will be co-financed by EU funds.

Residents were asked to rule if they wanted "total sovereignty and independence". The archipelago still has a geo-strategic importance for Paris. In addition, a quarter of the world's nickel deposits are stored here – an important raw material for the manufacture of electronic devices.