Rival anti-independence parties in New Caledonia have decided to join forces in the May elections in the Loyalty Islands province.
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The Caledonia Together party and the recently formed coalition Future with Confidence issued a statement to confirm their cooperation.
The Loyalty Islands is a stronghold of the mainly Kanak pro-independence parties and the new alliance said a joint list was the only way to secure one of the provincial assembly's 14 seats.
The alliance said this would translate into one seat in the Congress whose 54 members are drawn from the territory's three provincial assemblies.
The partners are fierce rivals in the southern province but have common ground in rejecting independence.
The May election is expected to be a closely fought contest in which the pro-independence side is hoping to secure a majority for the first time.
The narrower than expected vote for the status quo in last November's referendum on independence from France has fuelled plans for the pro-independence side to pool their support.