New Caledonia will remain French
Secessionists calling for an end to French colonialism and the conversion of the island archipelago into a state of their own lost the legal referendum held on Sunday on their proposal for independence. The 'no' vote was 46.74 percent, compared to 55.3 percent for those in favour of remaining linked to the metropolis to which they have belonged since 1853.
Unlike other French maritime colonies, New Caledonia currently enjoys a special statute of autonomy under the title of "Collectivité sui généris", which allows it to have its own system of government with extensive powers. The archipelago covers 24,500 square kilometres spread over all its islands.
The main one, known as Gran Terra, is home to the capital Nouméa and two-thirds of the 284,000 inhabitants. In the referendum, the third held in recent years, 85.64% participated; a record that explains the interest that the consultation had aroused. The victory of those in favour of remaining linked to France outweighed their opponents by just under 10,000 votes.
In France, where the fear of a victory by the independence supporters existed, particularly because it would serve as a stimulus for those claiming the same in other islands under French sovereignty, the result was received with official satisfaction. New Caledonia is in the group of seventeen territories considered by the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation.
New Caledonia is part of Oceania and is located in the South Pacific. Its large nickel reserves are of interest to countries such as China. On the other hand, both the climate and the beauty of the islands, with dreamy beaches, are a growing tourist attraction. The main problem is that it is very far from those countries that bring in most visitors.
The referendum went smoothly. There were hardly any incidents when the results were known. The defeated leaders, who expected their time to come, compensated the frustration they felt due to better results compared to previous consultations by announcing that they would do it again in 2022.