The leader of France's National Front Marine Le Pen has contradicted the head of the party's New Caledonia chapter over how to vote in this weekend's run-off election of a new French National Assembly.
Marine Le Pen Photo: AFP
The party had issued a directive to vote for candidates who refuse to ever accept independence from France, which was meant to be a call to support the anti-independence politician Philippe Gomes in his contest against a separatist rival.
But the Front's head in Noumea Bianca Henin announced that she would cast a blank ballot because Mr Gomes was in the process of selling out New Caledonia.
Furthermore, she said Mr Gomes called on his supporters in last month's presidential election to vote for Emmanuel Macron and not for Marine Le Pen.
Philippe Gomes Photo: AFP
The territory is on track for an independence referendum next year.
Mrs Le Pen said the National Front position remained the same.
She said this meant it supported politicians who wanted to forge an alliance with all political forces in favour of keeping New Caledonia French in the face of the anti-French pro-independence extremists.