Asia Pacific Repоrt: BIG raises concerns over France’s role ahead of New Caledonia vote

Asia Pacific Report has published an article by Baku Initiative Group (BIG) highlighting growing political tensions ahead of New Caledonia’s provincial elections scheduled for June 28, framing the vote as a critical moment in the territory’s long-standing debate over self-determination and France’s colonial governance.

The report draws attention to repressive policies by France toward the Indigenous Kanak population and restrictions on their political and cultural rights. The group has also used social media to criticise continued neocolonial influence over the Pacific territory, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The elections are expected to determine not only the composition of provincial assemblies but also the makeup of the Congress and government of New Caledonia, making the outcome central to discussions over the territory’s future political status.

According to the article, French Prime Minister’s decision to proceed with the vote is viewed by some stakeholders as an attempt to consolidate administrative control.

The report also references concerns raised by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which recently warned that constitutional and political reforms in New Caledonia should not proceed without meaningful participation from Indigenous Kanak representatives.

Tensions have been further heightened by a proposed electoral reform supported by pro-France loyalists that would extend voting rights to people born in New Caledonia and their spouses. Critics estimate this could add around 10,000 voters, potentially altering the balance of the electorate and weakening Kanak political representation.

Originally scheduled for 2024 following the 2019 elections, the vote has been postponed multiple times. France’s Constitutional Council has now ruled that the elections must be held no later than June 28, 2026.

While French authorities describe the process as a procedural necessity, the article argues that the elections carry strategic implications for governance, representation, and the future of self-determination in the territory.

By Sabina Mammadli