New Caledonia's anti-independence side has officially nominated its two candidates for the election of the French Senate.
New Caledonia politician Pierre Frogier Photo: AFP
Pierre Frogier of the Rassemblement and Gerard Poadja of the Caledonia Together Party will jointly stand in the election on 24 September when France renews 170 Senate seats.
Mr Frogier, who held a range of top jobs in Noumea, is an incumbent.
He said for 30 years of his life he has fought for New Caledonia within France.
Mr Poadja, who is a former Congress president, said he was pleased to represent the rural north.
The Senators are chosen in two rounds of voting by an electoral college of 552 people made up of assembly members and mayors.
The second round is obsolete if they secure a majority in the first round.
They are elected for a six-year term which they are certain to sit out if voters next year reject possible independence from France.