New Caledonia's Pacific Awakening Party says next month's referendum on independence from France is a political nonsense.
The party's leader Milakulo Tukumuli said the vote should not go ahead as planned because the pandemic has made campaigning impossible and pro-independence Kanaks said they would not take part in the process.
Wallisian party formed in New Caledonian Photo: FB Eveil Oceanien
The party, which represents Wallisian and Futunians and holds the balance of power in New Caledonia's Congress, said all the same, the plebiscite on December 12 cannot be legally challenged.
Mr Tukumuli also said his party is against independence now because there is not the capacity to assume full sovereignty.
France has rejected repeated calls to postpone the referendum to next year, dismissing Covid-19-related concerns and declaring that the pandemic is under control.
The December vote will the third and final independence referendum under the terms of the 1998 Noumea Accord.