This “project of agreement” must still be ratified in New Caledonia after internal consultation of the parties and movements having signed it. Participated in these negotiations in Bougival all the political forces of the Caledonian Congress: Caledonian and Uni-Palika Union for independence, loyalists and rally-LR for non-independence, Caledonia together and Oceanian awakening at the center.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed a “historic agreement” acting a “New Caledonia State”, a victory for the “bet of confidence”. He announced that he would receive negotiators at 6:00 p.m..
François Bayrou expressed his “pride of an agreement up to history”. “Honorary to the courageous negotiators, thank you to Mr. (Manuel) Valls”, the Minister of Overseas, adds to X the head of government. Mr. Valls greets him “the choice of courage and responsibility” of Caledonian officials.
“Nothing is won”
During an exchange with the press, the minister then mentioned an “intelligent compromise” and “historic” compromise, stressing that the agreement deed a “state of New Caledonia in the French whole”, a link with France “maintained” with “more sovereignty for Caledonia” and a base of “political, economic and social reconstruction”, made necessary by the riots of 2024.
“But nothing is won,” he warns, calling for “convincing the Caledonians”.
In a press release, the loyalists and the rally-LR welcomes them to “a historic agreement” able to establish a new era of stability “, noting in particular that the agreement will allow” the reopening of the electoral body to many Caledonians “.
Contested electoral reform
One of the points of the agreement stipulates that the local electorate will be open to residents in New Caledonia for at least ten years from the provincial elections of 2031, while the reform of the electoral body had been at the origin of the riots of May 2024, which left 14 dead.
They also welcome that “this choice respects the sovereign will expressed by the Caledonians” during the three independence referendums of 2018, 2020 and 2021 and evoke necessary “concessions”, with “the transformation of the New Caledonia community into an integrated state”.
“A status in France. With Caledonians who remain French. No more referendum in sight except that which will be organized to validate this agreement. An opening of the electoral body,” said non -independence deputy Nicolas Metzdorf to AFP.
Caledonian nationality
Entitled The “Bet of Confidence”, the 13 pages of the draft agreement, consulted by AFP, acts the creation of a Caledonian nationality, the inhabitants meeting the criteria of citizenship of the pebble benefiting from the dual French and Caledonian nationality.
A “State of New Caledonia” inscribed in the Constitution of the French Republic will be created, which may be recognized by the international community, underlines the agreement. This does not mean that New Caledonia will have a seat at the UN.
The agreement addresses the economy with a future “economic and financial refoundation pact” which provides in particular a “strategic plan” for nickel, key resource of the territory, but remains vague in ambitions and terms.
Referendum in 2026
Once validated by the “bases” in New Caledonia, the text first provides for the adoption in the fall of an organic law postponing the provincial elections – determining for the composition of the congress and the local government – to June 2026.
Will follow a constitutional bill, modifying title XIII of the Constitution relating to New Caledonia, which will have to be adopted by the Parliament gathered in Congress. The Caledonians will then be called upon to decide on the agreement during a referendum, scheduled for February 2026.
The president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, praised a moment when “everyone has risen to the height of history, to reconnect the dialogue and lead to a historical agreement”, believing that “hope is reborn for New Caledonia”.
“It will be essential to analyze the consequences on the constitutional status of France and its principles deeply upset by these provisions”, warns on X Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of rebellious France.
