New Caledonia: in the absence of an agreement, Gérald Darmanin intends to return to Noumea at the beginning of December

Europe 1 with AFP 15:50 p.m., November 25, 2023

The Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories, Gérald Darmanin, has not managed to bring the separatists of the Caledonian Union (UC) back to the negotiating table, and said on Saturday in Noumea that he was "a little scalded" by the outcome of the meetings he held with them. In an interview with RRB radio and the television channels New Caledonia, La 1ère and Calédonia, Gérald Darmanin said he could return to Noumea on 4 and 5 December, "provided that three-way meetings are held", including the state, the separatists and the non-separatists (loyalists).

Gérald Darmanin "scalded to see that some of the separatists did not want to enter into the discussion"

For the fifth time in a year, Gérald Darmanin visited New Caledonia on Friday and Saturday to discuss the future status of the territory with local parties. He received at length the Caledonian Union, the main component of the Socialist Kanak Liberation Front (FLNKS), on Friday and again on Saturday, without succeeding in convincing the movement to engage in tripartite talks.

"Many discussions have been held, this is the fifth time that I have come to New Caledonia to lead these discussions, I was a little burned to see that some of the separatists did not want to enter into the discussion," he commented, while saying he was ready to come back "for the sixth time" in order to obtain "a broader agreement".

The UC, which rejects the draft presented by the State at the beginning of September, confirmed at its congress in mid-November that it refused to discuss the text, while reaffirming its willingness to dialogue with the State, in the form of bilateral meetings. The other main component of FLNKS, Palika, on the other hand, is participating in the discussions. The minister recalled that, even in the absence of a meeting, the State would maintain its timetable, which provides for a constitutional reform in 2024 concerning New Caledonia.

A text tabled on 31 December

The possible thawing of the electorate in the provincial elections (which could upset the political balance) is one of the stumbling blocks, as the UC is opposed to it. This election is crucial in New Caledonia, where the provinces hold a large part of the powers.

"An opinion has been requested from the Council of State, which will rule on 8 or 9 December," the minister said, on the legal possibility of modifying this electoral body. And, unless there is a consensus that makes it possible to consider the continuation of discussions, "a text will be tabled on December 31 to modify the electorate, so that elections are held in 2024," he continued.