New Caledonia heads to second independence referendum - October 4 2020
Few weeks out from New Caledonia’s second referendum on independence from France, positioning continues by both independence and loyalist groups, deepening polarisation, while President Emmanuel Macron has replaced the two ministers who have been working on the sensitive self-determination issues.
The forthcoming poll is the second of a possible three votes on independence under the final stages of the 1998 Noumea Accord, one of a number of agreements ending the civil war over independence demands in the 1980s. The second vote has been rescheduled for 4 October, a month later than originally planned, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the first referendum in November 2018, 57% voted in favour of staying with France and the remaining 43%, largely an ethnic indigenous Kanak vote, supported independence. If all three polls reject independence, parties must discuss the future for New Caledonia.
The forthcoming poll is the second of a possible three votes on independence under the final stages of the 1998 Noumea Accord, one of a number of agreements ending the civil war over independence demands in the 1980s. The second vote has been rescheduled for 4 October, a month later than originally planned, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.In the first referendum in November 2018, 57% voted in favour of staying with France and the remaining 43%, largely an ethnic indigenous Kanak vote, supported independence. If all three polls reject independence, parties must discuss the future for New Caledonia.
