Paris (AFP)
Overseas Minister Sébastien Lecornu praised Monday the process of "French-style decolonization" following the referendum on the independence of New Caledonia won by the pro-French and marked by the push for independence.
After an election which took place "in a very very very satisfactory manner", the minister "saluted the spirit of responsibility of all the political forces" and underlined on France Inter the seriousness of the moment.
"What is serious is that it is a peace process that we are playing there, which is serious, it is an original, singular, unusual process of French-style decolonization recognized by the United Nations", he stressed.
"This process is not an ordinary process because it comes to guarantee civil peace and democratic expression," he added.
While some political leaders criticized the State for not having been present alongside supporters of the no to independence, Mr. Lecornu stressed that the Nouméa agreement which established the process in 1998 is "an agreement to three between those who want independence, those who do not want it, and the 3rd, it is the State: the State, in the defense of the general interest, which is the guarantor of a impartiality".
"We must not confuse the state and the government, which are two different things," he continued: "if the government can take political initiatives, it is possible", he noted, without specify, but "the State must remain impartial".
Will a third referendum, possible by 2022 according to the Noumea agreement, be organized?
"The answer belongs to elected Caledonians," replied the minister.
In the referendum on Sunday, the no to independence came first with 53.26% of the vote, but it lost more than three points compared to the first referendum of November 4, 2018, where the pro-France won. with 56.7% of the vote.
© 2020 AFP