New Caledonia has held the second round of the municipal elections deferred from March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Residential areas in Noumea, New Caledonia south of the city. 2008 Photo: MARC LE CHELARD / AFP
Voters elected the remaining 22 mayors and councils in communes where no candidate had secured an absolute majority in the first round.
Among those re-elected yesterday is the president of the Northern Province Paul Neaoutyine who was returned as the mayor of Poindimie for a sixth term.
The leader of the newly formed Generations NC party Nicolas Metzdorf became the youngest mayor at 32 years, winning in La Foa.
Territory-wide the once dominant Caledonia Together party saw declining support while pro-independence parties increased their presence in the Southern Province.
Turnout shortly before polls closed was reported to be below 40 percent.
Among those winning an absolute majority in the first round in March was the re-elected Noumea mayor Sonia Lagarde.
The 33 councils and mayors are elected for six-year terms.