The president of New Caledonia's Future Together Party, Didier Leroux, has quit his position, saying he is taking responsibility for the poor results in the provincial elections in May.
The party had been the dominant force after the 2004 polls but was weakened by splits which have been countered by calls to form a coalition to counter the pro-independence movement.
Mr Leroux says he regards that approach as flawed.
"The coalition has effectively gathered all the anti-independence parties, but I think this is rubbish because this has been done without agreeing on a programme or a project, which is stupid."
Didier Leroux
.