New Caledonia: very divided positions for a second referendum on independence
New Caledonian voters will have to say "yes" or "no" to independence from France for the second time in two years.
Photo dated November 4, 2018, for the previous referendum.
Theo Rouby / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?
With a “yes” or “no” ballot, voters will answer this question again this Sunday, October 4.
For the second time in two years, the South Pacific archipelago will vote on its independence from France.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Nouméa
,
Julien Sartre
In November 2018,
a first self-determination referendum
was held
: the “no” to independence won 56.4% against 43.6% for the “yes”.
The supporters of independence believe that this time it will not be the case, they affirm that the "yes" will prevail and that Monday, October 5 will be the beginning of a period of transition with France.
What terrify the supporters of "no".
These days, in Nouméa, the capital, parades of honking cars follow one another.
Some have huge blue-white-red flags and the others show off the colors of Kanaky.
Meetings are full and marches are organized in the city but also elsewhere in the archipelago, in the North in particular.
No survey made public
"
I have never seen such fervor, such a desire to rally and participate
", testifies the professor of public law and activist for the "yes" to the referendum on Sunday, Matthias Chauchat.
Everyone was surprised in 2018 by the high score of supporters of independence.
This year, no survey was made public.
The slogans of the militants of the "no", the loyalists, are very anxiety-provoking and affirm for example that the "
yes to independence would mean the end of economic prosperity, of security
".
“
How will we do without the money from France?
They ask themselves.
Fears that the - enthusiastic - campaign of the Socialist Kanak Liberation Front (FLNKS) wants to dispel.
Their message is also to say that if it is the "
no ”which passes on Sunday, a third referendum will take place in less than two years.
And then, it's the end of the Nouméa agreements, the unknown.
►Also read: New Caledonia: a referendum in a territory without Covid-19
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