Macron: New Caledonia to become new state within France

The French overseas territory of New Caledonia will become a “new state” within the Republic, President Emmanuel Macron has announced.

“After more than ten days of discussions, the elected officials of New Caledonia and the representatives of the State have reached a historic agreement. A State of New Caledonia within the Republic: this is the wager of trust,” the president wrote on X.

According to the portal Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes, a delegation from New Caledonia and representatives of the French government signed an agreement in Paris on July 12 regarding the institutional framework of the overseas territory following ten days of negotiations.

The agreement provides for a guarantee of the territory’s “permanent” status, the portal reports. Some of the key principles outlined in the document include enshrining a foundational law in the French Constitution, establishing Caledonian citizenship—inseparable from French citizenship—expanding the electorate, changing the composition of the country’s parliament, and transferring tax authority and certain powers in international relations to New Caledonia.

It is noted that the idea of a new referendum on self-determination was excluded, and elections to provincial governing bodies may take place in May or June 2026. According to the European outlet Politico, the deal also includes commitments by France to support economic development and will be subject to a vote by both the Caledonian population and the French Parliament.

By Vugar Khalilov