Pacific

Bid to end New Caledonia deadlock expected

15:05 pm on 23 January 2015

New Caledonia's pro-independence Caledonian Union says it will present a proposal to end the political deadlock within two weeks.

Photo: AFP

The territory has been without a president for more than five weeks after the administration of Cynthia Ligeard collapsed amid disagreement within the anti-independence coalition.

Two attempts to elect a new president have failed, leaving the government in caretaker mode, with none of the three anti-independence parties prepared to alter their position.

The anti-independence side has six ministers and the pro-independence side five, who have abstained in the election.

A Caledonian Union leader has told the local newspaper that a plan to end the crisis is being discussed and will be aired at party congresses this and next weekend.

A leading anti-independence politician, Philippe Gomes, says if the impasse continues, a fresh general election needs to be called.