France's former prime minister Manuel Valls has written an open letter to New Caledonians after a public spat with a political rival over leading a parliamentary mission to Noumea.
Manuel Valls Photo: SUPPLIED/Pool picture
Mr Valls said national politics must not be used as a pretext to settle personal scores by certain people.
Manuel Valls mentioned no name but his comment referred to the Left's Jean-Luc Melenchon who quit the mission, saying Mr Valls was an inappropriate choice to head it.
In his letter, Mr Valls said as prime minister he presided over four meetings of the signatories to the Noumea Accord, being able to give concrete answers to important questions.
He said he intended to lead the parliamentary mission with humility and modesty as there were high expectations of the French state in New Caledonia which was entering a crucial phase of its history.
Mr Valls said President Emmanuel Macron was personally following the situation and the prime minister Edouard Philippe will soon host the signatories' meeting before going to New Caledonia to make his contribution towards the construction of the common destiny.