Surprise alliance hands anti-independence bloc control of New Caledonia Congress

The victory came less than two weeks after pro-France parties won the wealthy and most populous Southern Province in provincial elections held on 28 June.

In a vote on Friday, Virginie Ruffenach, of the Les Loyalistes and Le Rassemblement party, one of the hardline branches of the non-independence movement, was elected president of the Congress – the territory's elected assembly – securing 28 of the 54 votes.

Her opponent, Dominique Fochi, backed by the pro-independence bloc "Kanaky for All", got 26 votes.

The pro-France bloc initially held 24 seats in the assembly but a deal with the four lawmakers of the Eveil Océanien (Oceanian Awakening) party enabled it to form a majority.

Ruffenach said the "governance" coalition had been formed to help rebuild New Caledonia after a difficult period.

Deadly unrest in May 2024, sparked by planned changes to voting rights, left 14 people dead and caused more than €2 billion in damage.  Virginie Ruffenach (centre) was elected president of New Caledonia's Congress on Friday.

Future uncertain in New Caledonia after French MPs block reform plan

Alliance of convenience

Oceanian Awakening was founded in 2019 to represent the interests of New Caledonia's Wallisian and Futunian community 

"We do not share the same vision with Oceanian Awakening on the island's institutional future," Ruffenach said. "But we have put that aside to build a majority for recovery and reconstruction at what is probably the most difficult period in New Caledonia's recent history."

Oceanian Awakening said it had first tried to form a majority with the independence bloc, led by the Kanak Socialist Liberation Front (FLNKS), but had failed.

"We believe the conditions for stability within the independence bloc are not in place," the party's president, Milakulo Tukumuli, said.

Key dates in New Caledonia's history

Questions over durability

The new partners say they expect the alliance to last for the full five-year term.

However, the Congress elects its president every year, leaving open the possibility that the balance of power could change.

The coalition agreement does not include long-term political projects, including the issue of the archipelago's institutional future, which is still to be debated between New Caledonia's political parties and the French government.

New Caledonia has rejected independence from France in three successive referendums, laid down as part of the 1998 Noumea accord, which set out a roadmap for greater autonomy for the territory.

However, the third and final referendum in December 2021 took place during Covid restrictions and was boycotted by the pro-independence camp.

(with newswires)