Paris (AFP)
The Loyalist and Caledonian independence leaders, meeting Thursday at Matignon around Edouard Philippe, finally succeeded in the night of Thursday to Friday to find a compromise on the date of the next referendum on the independence of the archipelago, which will take place on August 30 or September 6, and on the sensitive issue of the electorate.
The exact date of the second referendum on the accession to full sovereignty of New Caledonia, to be fixed by the State, will be decided in the next 15 days, "so that we are able to guarantee the mobilization of resources equivalents "to those engaged in the first ballot and" so that the material conditions of the poll are as irreproachable ", announced the Prime Minister after 15 hours of discussion.
"It's not a simple date, and it's not a simple date to fix," he said.
After the first referendum of self-determination, which took place on November 4, 2018 and saw the victory of the "no" to independence (56.7%), the Prime Minister absolutely wanted "to find a consensus" within the Signatory Committee of the Nouméa Agreement, signed in 1998, which set up a process of decolonization in stages, culmination of the work of reconciliation between Kanak and Caldoches, started in 1988 with the Matignon agreements, following the violence of the 1980s, which culminated in the hostage taking and the assault on the Ouvéa cave in May 1988 (25 dead).
Convinced that time will allow them to win votes, the separatists defended a "as late as possible" referendum in November. On the other hand, in the non-independence camp, the Avenir en confiance asked for a second referendum in July, arguing that the local economy was "uncertain" because of these elections.
"The Prime Minister has cut the pear in two," acknowledged, for the pro-independence camp, Roch Wamytan, president of the Congress (Union calédonienne-FLNKS).
-"discrimination"-
As for the third possible referendum provided for by the Nouméa agreement (in the two years following a new victory of the "no" to independence), "we have excluded that this third consultation can be organized between the middle of September 2021 and the end of August 2022 ", in order to" clearly distinguish the national elections, and those specific to the future of New Caledonia, "said Edouard Philippe.
A satisfaction for MP Philippe Gomès (Caledonia Ensemble, non-independence, center right), who feared to see the last referendum held "in the heart of the presidential election with major risks of national political instrumentalisation".
Sonia Backès, president of the South Province (non-independenceist, Avenir en confiance, close Republicans) welcomed a "positive assessment": "we have obtained that the date is advanced and that it is envisaged the end of the process of the Noumea agreement before the end of the presidential term.
Regarding the question of the electoral body - more restricted than for other elections - sensitive subject that tense the two parties, it was noted that voters of status common law (non kanak, ed) born in New Caledonia and who resident for more than three years, will not be, as in the previous election, automatically registered on the special voters list for the referendum. Indeed, it would have been necessary a revision of the electoral list by organic law, which the independentists refused. But they "will be identified and contacted personally" so that they make the step to register on this list.
"The proposed process allows all native New Caledonia people with three years of residence to be accompanied to be on the special electoral list," said Ms. Backès. On the contrary, it is for Philippe Gomès, "a reason for great dissatisfaction", because "even if the State is committed to soliciting them individually, there will be a major discrimination between New Caledonians, depending on whether they are status of common law or customary status ".
"At present, we do not know the number of people concerned", estimated at about 1,500, said Roch Wamytan, judging that there was "no need to change the organic law" for such a number.
"What we must remember is that we must discuss, go towards each other, know how to make the compromise so that we can continue to move forward and build," concluded Victor Tutugoro (National Union for independence-FLNKS).
To revive the economy Caledonian, down, the state has also announced nearly 79 million euros additional development contracts of New Caledonian communities, as well as nearly 125 million euros of liquidity to refinance the banks in New Caledonia. lack of savings.
© 2019 AFP