Politics of New Caledonia
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Politics of New Caledonia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic French overseas country, whereby the President of the Government is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Congress. The party system is dominated by the conservative Rally for Caledonia in the Republic and the separatist National Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front FLNKS [1], though in the last years the liberal Future Together became the second political force. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
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[edit] Political developments
The unique status of New Caledonia is in between that of an independent country and a regular overseas collectivité of France. On the one hand, a Congress and a government have been established, and a devolution of powers is organized by the 1998 Nouméa Accord. Key areas such as taxation, labor law, health and hygiene and foreign trade are already in the hands of the Congress. Further competence will supposedly be given to the Congress in the near future. Eventually, the French Republic should only remain competent for foreign affairs, justice, defence, public order, and treasury.
A New Caledonian "citizenship" has also been introduced: only New Caledonian "citizens" have the right to vote in the local elections. This measure has been criticized, because it creates a second-class status for French citizens living in New Caledonia who do not possess New Caledonian "citizenship" (because they settled in the territory recently). New Caledonia is also allowed to engage in international cooperation with independent countries of the Pacific Ocean. Finally, the territorial Congress is allowed to pass statutes that are derogatory to French law in a certain number of areas.
On the other hand, New Caledonia remains an integral part of the French Republic. Inhabitants of New Caledonia are French citizens and carry French passports. They take part in the legislative and presidential French elections. New Caledonia sends two representatives to the French National Assembly and one senator to the French Senate. The representative of the French central state in New Caledonia is the High Commissioner of the Republic (Haut-Commissaire de la République, locally known as "haussaire"), who is the head of civil services, and who seats in the government of the territory.
It was decided in the Nouméa Accord that the Congress will have the right to call for a referendum on independence after 2014, at a time of its choosing.
The current president of the government elected by the Congress is Marie-Noëlle Thémereau, from the loyalist (i.e. anti-independence) Future Together party ("Future together"), which toppled the long-time ruling Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (Rally for Caledonia inside the Republic) in May 2004. "Future Together" is a party of mostly Caucasian and Polynesian New Caledonians opposed to independence but tired of the hegemonic and allegedly corrupt anti-independence RPCR. Their toppling of the RPCR (that was until then seen as the only voice of New Caledonian whites) was a surprise to many, and a sign that the society of New Caledonia is undergoing changes. "Future together", as the name implies, is opposed to a racial vision of New Caledonian society, opposing Melanesians native inhabitants and European settlers, and is in favor of a multicultural New Caledonia, better reflecting the existence of large populations of Polynesians, Indonesians, Chinese, and other immigrants. Some members of "Future Together" are even in favor of independence, though not necessarily on the same basis as the Melanesian independence parties.
[edit] Executive branch
| Main office holders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
| High Commissioner | Anne Bouquet | 10 September 2005 | |
| President of the Government | Marie-Noëlle Thémereau | Avénir ensemble | 10 June 2004 |
The high commissioner is appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior, the president of the government is elected by the members of the Territorial Congress.
[edit] Legislative branch
The Congress (Congrès) has 54 members, comprised of the members of the four regional councils, all elected for a five year term by proportional representation. Furthermore there is a 16 member Kanak Customary Senate (two members from each of the eight customary aires).
[edit] Political parties and elections
- The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in New Caledonia. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in New Caledonia.
| Parties | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (Rassemblement pour une Calédonie dans la République) | 24.5% | 16 | |
| Future Together (Avénir ensemble) | 22.8% | 16 | |
| National Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (Union nationale pour l'Indépendance-Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste} | 13.7% | 8 | |
| Caledonian Union (Union Calédonienne) | 11.9% | 7 | |
| National Front (Front National) | 7.5% | 4 | |
| Union of Pro-Independence Co-operation Committees (Union des comités de la Coopération pour l'Indépendance) | 3.2% | 1 | |
| Socialist Kanak Liberation (Libération Kanak Socialiste) | 2.9% | 1 | |
| Renewed Caledonian Union (Union Calédonienne Renouveau) | 1.8 | 1 | |
| Total (turnout 76.4 %) | 54 |
New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate and 2 seats to the French National Assembly.
[edit] Judicial branch
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
[edit] Administrative divisions
New Caledonia is divided in 3 provinces: Province des Îles, Province Nord, and Province Sud - which are further subdivided into 33 communes.
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Administrative divisions of New Caledonia |  |
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[edit] International organization participation
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
[edit] External links
Australia
Australia • Norfolk Island • Christmas Island • Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Melanesia
East Timor • Fiji • New Caledonia • Papua New Guinea • Solomon Islands • Vanuatu
Micronesia
Guam • Kiribati • Marshall Islands • Northern Mariana Islands • Federated States of Micronesia • Nauru • Palau
Polynesia
American Samoa • Cook Islands • French Polynesia • New Zealand • Niue • Pitcairn • Samoa • Tokelau • Tonga • Tuvalu • Wallis and Futuna
