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Nouméa, Nov. 4, 2018 – Prime Minister Édouard Philippe arrived in New Caledonia Monday, where he comes to meet the political forces, after a referendum of self-determination which saw the victory of maintaining in France, despite a strong breakthrough of the separatists.
Édouard Philippe, who comes from Vietnam accompanied by the Minister of Overseas Annick Girardin, must meet in turn each political force present at the Congress of New Caledonia.
He wants to continue the dialogue of reconciliation initiated 30 years after the quasi-civil war of the 80s between the Kanak, indigenous people of the territory, and the Caldoches, population of European origin, and discuss the future of this strategic territory, which has significant reserves of nickel and represents the last European territory in the area following Brexit.
New Caledonia chose Sunday to remain in the French fold with 56.4% of the vote in a referendum of historic self-determination, consecrating according to President Macron a "mark of confidence in the Republic".
But the separatists (with 43.6% for the yes), that the polls gave largely losers, have instead created the surprise and consolidated their position, including filling the Kanak voices on the mainland.
The participation was mbadive, with 80.63% of voters.
Incidents enamelled the evening, especially in the northern neighborhoods and St. Louis, a tribe at the gates of Nouméa, where traffic on the main road has been interrupted since Sunday midnight, because of tires on the road ignited by young people.
The head of government, which is the second visit on the Caillou, must speak at the end of the day before the press (Monday morning in Paris). Previously he will travel to the north, to meet two figures of independence, Paul Néaoutyine president of the northern province of New Caledonia and Daniel Goa, president of the Union Calédonienne.
His visit marks the attention of the government for the New Caledonian territory, after the intervention Sunday of the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, who said in a televised speech his "immense pride that we have spent together this historic milestone" and "the majority of Caledonians chose France".
The head of state added that there was now "no other way than that of the dialogue"and invited"everyone to look to the future".
– "Prepare the bride"-
Strong of their score, the partisans of a break with the metropolis as soon as Sunday reaffirmed their will to go to the end of the agreement of Noumea (1998) and to request the organization of two other referendums in the four years to come, as provided by the agreement.
For Louis Mapou, UNI-FLNKS group leader at the Congress, "the separatists are even more motivated than before to ask for the second and third referendums. From tomorrow, we will prepare the bride so that she is even more beautiful in 2020", he told AFP.
"We are on the brink of victory, and we have two more consultations to comesaid Alosio Sako, president of the Pacific Democratic Rally (FLNKS).
In fact, the atmosphere was more festive Sunday night among the losers than the winners. "It's those who lost who are partying", said Philippe Gomès, leader of the main non-independence party, Calédonie Ensemble (moderate right).
The three loyalist parties, highly divided, had put forward the protection provided by France and the 1.3 billion euros in annual aid, and hoped that a broad victory away the prospect of new referendums.
Philippe Michel, secretary general of Calédonie Ensemble, "continues to think that it is better if we can do without a second and a third referendum"but that he would not oppose the Noumea agreement, which is"constitutionalised".
"Is New Caledonia really four years old to lose?asked Sonia Backès, president of the group Republicans in the Congress, for her part.find a solution and replace this second and third referendum"in order to"finally stabilize New Caledonia".
– Incidents –
According to Pierre-Christophe Pantz, doctor in geopolitics, he is "clearly we do not argue the same way when we do 43% rather than 30%"."This will force non-separatists to review their copy", adds the expert.
Sunday's referendum was intended to continue the work of reconciliation, begun with the 1988 Matignon Agreement, between the Kanaks and the Caldoches. These agreements were signed after the violence of the 1980s, which culminated in the taking of hostages and the badault on the Ouvéa cave in May 1988 (25 dead).
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