Paris tries to break deadlock on New Caledonia's future status

New Caledonia's pro-independence and pro-French parties are in Paris as part of French-mediated talks about the Pacific territory's future.

Since the end of 2021, there has been a stalemate following a series of three referendums on New Caledonia's independence.

All three consultations have resulted in a majority of voters rejecting the notion of independence.

But the FLNKS, an umbrella of pro-independence parties, is contesting the outcome of the third referendum.

This was largely boycotted by the indigenous Kanak population, who said the covid restrictions and traditional mourning at the time deterred many of them to take part.

The FLNKS claims it wants to bring the matter before the International Court of Justice.

It recently received in-principle support from the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders who gathered in Port Vila, Vanuatu, last month.

France, on its part, has consistently regarded those results as tangible outcomes of the Nouméa Accord, signed in 1998, ten years after another deal, the Matignon-Oudinot Accord, was struck to bring an end to half a decade of a bloody quasi-civil war.

Paris has already made several attempts to bring pro and anti-independence politicians to the same table, but so far, only 'bilateral' talks have been possible: between France and the pro-independence camp and, separately, between Paris and the pro-France camp.

French Home Affairs and Overseas minister Gérald Darmanin has travelled three times to New Caledonia over the past 12 months.

The aim, now, is to begin those fresh Paris talks with a series of 'bilateral' meetings.

It would then be to try and achieve 'trilateral' talks inclusive of all sides.

This new attempt comes as FLNKS, at a recent convention last week, reiterated its stance to take part in bilateral discussions with France only.

However, some pro-independence leaders, including members of the moderate Palika party, have already announced their intention to participate in 'trilateral' talks, but not as FLNKS members.

Other members of the more radical wing of FNLKS, the Union Calédonienne, have also hinted they could also take part in 'trilaterals' scheduled to be chaired by French Prime minister Elisabeth Borne.

In the pro-France camp, leaders have recently expressed their exasperation at what they term the pro-independence parties' "procrastination".

"New Caledonians who voted NO to independence three times can no longer bear the procrastination of the pro-independence camp.

"It is time to move forward with those who really want to and who have the courage to take responsibility for their decision before the voters", the Loyalistes and Rassemblement-Les Républicains parties wrote.

They are asking France to go ahead with the constitutional amendments, whether those trilateral talks are achieved or not.

French President Emmanuel Macron was in New Caledonia late July, when he announced in substance that after those three referendums and three rejections of independence, his plans were now to go ahead with a reform of the French Constitution and specific arrangements for New Caledonia sometime early 2024.

This would require a special gathering of the French Congress.

The talks should also touch on the sensitive issue of New Caledonia's electoral roll for local elections.

As part of the Nouméa Accord, the roll was 'frozen' to only include voters who were born in New Caledonia or established there before 1998 including their descendents.

The measure was supposed to be temporary for the duration of the Accord, which is now deemed to have expired.

From France's point of view, these special measures are no longer tenable and should be returned to normal before New Caledonia's provincial elections next year.