View source for Politics of New Caledonia

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Politics of New Caledonia}}
{{Politics of France}}

[[New Caledonia]] is a French [[Overseas departments and territories of France#Special collectivity|sui generis collectivity]] with a system of government based on [[parliamentary system|parliamentarism]] and [[representative democracy]]. The President of the Government is the [[head of government]], and there is a [[multi-party system]], with [[Executive power]] being exercised by the government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the [[Executive (government)|executive]] and the [[Congress of New Caledonia]]. The [[judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature.

== Political developments ==
Article 77 of the [[Constitution of France]] and the [[Organic Law]] 99-209 confers a unique status on New Caledonia between that of an independent country and a regular ''[[collectivité d'outre-mer]]'' or overseas ''collectivité'' of France. A territorial congress and government have been established, and the 1998 [[Nouméa Accord]] organized a devolution of powers. Key areas such as taxation, labor law, health and hygiene and foreign trade are already in the hands of the Congress. Further powers will supposedly be given to the Congress in the near future.<ref>{{Cite web |title=French Case {{!}} Foreign Law Translations {{!}} Texas Law |url=https://law.utexas.edu/transnational/foreign-law-translations/french/case.php?id=989 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=law.utexas.edu}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2011 |title=STATUTES OF THE COUNTRY OF NEW CALEDONIA |url=https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/sites/default/files/as/root/bank_mm/anglais/eng_99-209_statutNC.pdf}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1998 |title=Agreement on New Caledonia signed in Nouméa on 5 May 1998 [fr] |url=https://nz.ambafrance.org/Agreement-on-New-Caledonia-signed-in-Noumea-on-5-May-1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2002 |title=Agreement on New Caledonia (Noumea Accord) |url=https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/BC_980505_Noumea_Accord.pdf}}</ref>

Under article 4 of the [[Organic Law]] 99-209 a [[Subnational citizenship|New Caledonian citizenship]] has also been introduced: only New Caledonian citizens (defined by article 188) have the right to vote in the local elections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Our Company |url=https://larje.unc.nc/en/about-us-2/presentation_en/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> 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 only 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 contrary to [[French law]] in a certain number of areas.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin@congres |date=2021-10-19 |title=Powers of Congress |url=https://www.congres.nc/the-congress-of-new-caledonia-assembly/powers-of-congress/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Congrès |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

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 [[:Category:French legislative constituencies in New Caledonia|two representatives]] to the [[French National Assembly]] and two senators 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 sits in the government of the territory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immigration Law at New Caledonia (France) |url=https://www.lawgratis.com/blog-detail/immigration-law-at-new-caledonia-france |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Law Gratis |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=French naturalization by decree |url=https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34708/1_0_0_1_0_1_1_0?lang=en |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=www.service-public.gouv.fr |language=Fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Caledonia |url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/NewCaledonia.html |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=travel.state.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Nouméa Accord]] stipulates that the Congress will have the right to call for a [[referendum]] on [[independence]] after 2014, at a time of its choosing. Following the timeline set by the Nouméa Accord, the groundwork was laid for a Referendum on full independence from France at a meeting chaired by the French Prime Minister [[Édouard Philippe]] on 2 November 2017, with the referendum to be held by [[2018 New Caledonian independence referendum|November 2018]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Document Viewer |url=https://docs.un.org/en/A/AC.109/2021/11 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=docs.un.org}}</ref> Voter list eligibility had been a subject of a long dispute, but the details were resolved at this meeting.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2017/11/03/referendum-d-autodetermination-en-nouvelle-caledonie-un-accord-politique-trouve_5209433_823448.html| title = Nouvelle-Calédonie : ce que contient l'" accord politique " sur le référendum d'autodétermination| website = [[Le Monde]]| date = 3 November 2017}}</ref> In the 2018 referendum, voters narrowly chose to remain a part of France. Two further referendums were permitted, being held in [[2020 New Caledonian independence referendum|2020]] and [[2021 New Caledonian independence referendum|2021]]. 2020 saw slimmer margins than in the 2018 referendum, with 46.74% in favor of independence, while the 2021 vote overwhelmingly rejected independence, with 96.49% against it but on only a 43.87% turnout.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-12|title=New Caledonia rejects independence in final vote amid boycott|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/new-caledonia-begins-voting-independence-referendum-2021-12-12/|access-date=2021-12-12|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref> Kanak communities largely boycotted this referendum, advised by their leadership and still in mourning following mortality in the covid-19 pandemic.<ref>[[2021 New Caledonian independence referendum]]</ref> 

The current president of the government elected by the Congress is [[Louis Mapou]], from the pro-independence [[Party of Kanak Liberation|Palika]] political party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Decloitre |first=Patrick |last2=Desk |first2=Correspondent French Pacific |date=2025-01-07 |title=New Caledonia’s Congress elects new government |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/538369/new-caledonia-s-congress-elects-new-government |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |date=2024-11-15 |title=“Better a bad deal than a good civil war” • Nic Maclellan |url=https://insidestory.org.au/better-a-bad-deal-than-a-good-civil-war/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Inside Story |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2024, [[2024 New Caledonia unrest|riots]] broke out following controversial voting reforms.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Four dead in New Caledonia riots, France declares state of emergency |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-caledonia-riots-rage-after-paris-approves-voting-change-2024-05-15/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240516073922/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-caledonia-riots-rage-after-paris-approves-voting-change-2024-05-15/ |archive-date=2024-05-16 |access-date=2025-10-26 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref> 

On 13 July 2025, the Elysée Palace signed an institutional development agreement for New Caledonia between French and Caledonian elected officials,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.franceinfo.fr/france/nouvelle-caledonie/creation-d-un-etat-de-nouvelle-caledonie-nationalite-corps-electoral-ce-que-contient-l-accord-historique-signe-entre-l-etat-et-les-forces-politiques-du-territoire_7372849.html |title=Creation of a State of New Caledonia, nationality, electoral body... What the "historic" agreement signed with the political forces of the overseas territory contains |work=France TV Info |date=12 July 2025 |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref> known as the [[Bougival Accord]]. It took place after months of negotiations concluded with an agreement between all parties New Caledonia should remain within France, but with far greater levels of autonomy, the status of a state, and a dual citizenship arrangement for those that wish it.<ref>{{cite web | title=New Caledonia to be declared a state in 'historic' agreement – but will remain French | work=The Guardian | date=13 July 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/13/new-caledonia-to-be-declared-a-state-in-historic-agreement-but-will-remain-french }}</ref> The agreement will require ratification by both chambers of the French parliamentary system, and a probably referendum in New Caledonia in 2026. Initial thoughts on the deal suggest it is not what independence supporters hoped for, but statehood is a major concession by France.<ref>{{cite web | title=France announces 'historic' deal creating New Caledonia state that stays French | date=12 July 2025 | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250712-ncaledonia-politicians-agree-on-statehood-while-remaining-french }}</ref>

==Executive branch==
{{office-table}}
|High Commissioner
|Louis Le Franc
| 
|6 February 2023
|-
|President of the Government
|[[Louis Mapou]]
|[[National Union for Independence]]-[[Party of Kanak Liberation|Palika]]
|22 July 2021
|}

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.

==Legislative branch==
The '''Congress''' (''Congrès'') has 54 members, being the members of the three 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).

==Political parties and elections==
{{elect|List of political parties in New Caledonia|Elections in New Caledonia}}

===2019 territorial election===
{{#section-h:2019 New Caledonian legislative election|Results}}

===Parliamentarians===

====French National Assembly====
*[[Nicolas Metzdorf]] ([[New Caledonia's 1st constituency|first constituency]], [[Générations NC]], GNC) elected 2024; previously represented the [[New Caledonia's 2nd constituency|second constituency]]
*[[Emmanuel Tjibaou]] ([[New Caledonia's 2nd constituency|second constituency]], [[Caledonian Union]], UC) elected 2024

====French Senate====
*[[Georges Naturel]] ([[The Rally (New Caledonia)|The Rally]], R-LR) elected 2023
*[[Robert Xowie]] ([[Caledonian Union]], UC) elected 2023

==Judicial branch==
[[Court of Appeal (France)|Court of Appeal]] or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court

==Administrative divisions==
{{main|Administrative divisions of New Caledonia}}
New Caledonia is divided into three [[Collectivité territoriale|provinces]]: ''[[Province des Îles]]'', ''[[Province Nord]]'', and ''[[Province Sud]]'' - which are further subdivided into 33 [[Communes of France|communes]].

{{Administrative divisions of New Caledonia}}

==International organization participation==
{{Further|Foreign relations of New Caledonia}}
*[[French-Pacific Banking Agreement]]
*[[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions]]
*[[Pacific Islands Forum]] (associate)
* The [[Pacific Community]] (SPC)
*[[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific]] (associate)
*[[World Federation of Trade Unions]]
*[[World Meteorological Organization]].

==See also ==
{{Portal|Politics}}
* [[Ouvéa cave hostage taking]]
* [[Bougival Accord]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

===French===
* [http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/outremer/front?id=outremer/decouvrir_outre_mer/nouvelle_caledonie  French ministry of overseas territories]

{{Oceania in topic|Politics of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics of New Caledonia}}
[[Category:Politics of New Caledonia| ]]