New Caledonia: Pro-independence and non-pro-independence supporters sign a "historic" agreement

The details of this agreement, reached early in the morning after a final night of negotiations in Bougival (Yvelines), where Caledonian representatives had been meeting since July 2, are not yet known. It still needs to be ratified in New Caledonia by the representatives of the various delegations.

"A historic agreement has been signed," the non-independence Loyalists and the Rally said in a statement. Without specifying the content of the signed text, they assured that the agreement will allow "the reopening of the electoral body to many Caledonians."

They also welcome the fact that "this choice respects the sovereign will expressed by the Caledonians" during the three independence referendums of 2018, 2020 and 2021 and mention " concessions ", with "the transformation of the New Caledonia community into a State integrated into the national whole".

"It's signed. A status within France. With Caledonians remaining French. No more referendum in sight other than the one that will be organized to validate this agreement. An opening of the electorate," declared non-independence MP Nicolas Metzdorf in a reaction sent to AFP.

"We were predicted to have a referendum on the associated state in 15 years. We made significant concessions to avoid it and to definitively project New Caledonia into the future, without a deadline," he added.

"The time has now come for explanations and economic recovery," he stressed, as New Caledonia was ravaged by the riots of May 2024, which left 14 dead and more than two billion euros in damage.

"This agreement allows hope to be reborn," Philippe Gomes, leader of the Calédonie Ensemble party, told AFP. According to him, Parliament must convene in Versailles in the last quarter of the year to "constitutionalize" the agreement, before a local referendum. The crucial provincial elections on the archipelago, scheduled for the end of November at the latest, have been postponed.

According to AFP, the agreement establishes a "State of New Caledonia" enshrined in the Constitution of the French Republic. A Caledonian nationality will be created, and this state will be recognized by the international community.