Pacific / New Caledonia

New Caledonia's presidential election woes continue

16:00 pm on 14 September 2017

New Caledonia's main anti-independence party says the democratic process has been hijacked by the political interests of another loyalist faction.

The President of New Caledonia's collegial government, Philippe Germain. Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins

The Caledonia Together party says it denounces the stance of the Caledonian Republicans who for a second time in two weeks refused to elect the only candidate Philippe Germain as president.

He received only five of the six votes of the anti-independence politicians needed to be elected.

The pro-independence side, which has the remaining five seats in the 11-member government, has abstained.

The New Caledonia congress. Photo: AFP

In the absence of a president, there is no properly constituted government and the previous government remains as a caretaker administration.

The Caledonia Together Party has ruled out any bargaining or negotiations with what it calls a perfidious group to have Mr Germain re-elected.

There is no end in sight to the impasse, which observers say could continue until next year unless Paris decides to call an early general election.

A similar deadlock two years ago left New Caledonia without a government for three months until a pro-independence politician decided to vote for Mr Germain.