New Caledonia: Macron confirms ‘consensus’ constitutional reform

This is one of the burning issues of his visit. Republican President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Tuesday that the New Caledonian-specific constitutional reform would be carried out “by consensus” as stipulated by the 1998 Nouméa Accords, which are about to expire.

At the end of the three self-determination referendums that rejected independence, the decolonization process of New Caledonia will continue with this change in status, the “extent” and “ambition” of which will depend “on the timetable and on what we know how to negotiate,” he elaborated in an interview with New Caledonia 1st, RRB and Caledonia.

“In any case, it will be necessary to make changes to the Constitution, and these changes will remain in force,” the president said. This reform “will apply to New Caledonia, and I assume so.” And “having spoken to the President of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate, I also know that they share this desire that this topic can have its own constitutional basis,” added the President, who, in addition, began to reflect on the broader reform of the Constitution.

Compliant with the Noumea Accords

At the moment, negotiations on the institutional future of the archipelago have stalled, the separatists reject the results of the 3rd referendum, which they boycotted.

The Noumea Accords, which initiated the process of decolonization of Caillou, provide for a reform of his status after three referendums. The political organization, created in 1998, which gives it a very large amount of autonomy, will exist until this constitutional amendment is made. He will also have to revoke these agreements, which at that time were enshrined in articles 76 and 77 of the Constitution.

In the current situation, the French state exercises sovereign powers: justice, defense, public order, currency and foreign affairs. Other subjects – the right to employment, taxation, vocational training, foreign trade, maritime services, labor law, civil security, secondary education, etc. – are among the powers exercised by the local government, a collegiate executive branch consisting of 11 members elected proportionally by Congress. This atypical institution established a consensus democracy in New Caledonia, not a majority.

Last year, a draft referendum on New Caledonia’s future legal framework was announced for June 2023 before it was completely forgotten.

The right to vote at the center of discussions

As for the electorate, Emmanuel Macron wished on Tuesday “to find a consensus among political forces regarding the thaw.” The Nouméa Agreement stipulated that a minimum residence period of 10 years was required to vote in provincial elections so that the arrival of a new population would not upset the balance of power between separatists and non-separatists. The 2007 constitutional reform further tightened the conditions for access to this electorate by setting a deadline for entry into the territory. Since then, the electorate has been the subject of constant disputes in the archipelago.

However, new provincial elections are due in 2024, hence the demand by non-independents to reopen the electorate as they believe the decolonization process that led to this exclusion from universal suffrage is closed. The separatists, who have so far refused to make any concessions, have recently agreed to open negotiations.

“I welcome the spirit of discussion and the openness of the political forces that are moving forward on this issue,” Emmanuel Macron welcomed.