Clotilde Richalet / Hans Lucas via AFP
The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) confirmed on Wednesday August 13 that it rejected the Bougival agreement. (Photo of the Kanak flag with that of France)
POLITICS – Leader Christian Tein denounced “ A forced march agreement proposed by Macron. »» The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), the main independence alliance of New Caledonia, confirmed this Wednesday, August 13, that it rejected the Bougival agreement signed in early July with the State and non-independence.
The decision was made during an extraordinary movement of the movement on Saturday and confirmed on Wednesday during a press conference in Nouméa. FLNKS “Formally rejects the Bougival agreement, due to its incompatibility with the foundations and acquired from our struggle”said Dominique Fochi, secretary general of the Caledonian Union and member of the FLNKS political bureau.
The outcome of this congress was hardly in doubt: all the structures (parties and unions) making up the FLNKS had already spoken against the Bougival agreement, signed on July 12 at the end of ten days of negotiations between independence and non-independence under the aegis of the Minister of Overseas, Manuel Valls.
Saturday, at the opening of the extraordinary congress of the FLNKS, its president Christian Tein called, in a declaration read by an activist, to a rejection “Clear and unambiguous” of the agreement. Under judicial supervision, prohibited for stay in New Caledonia and absent during negotiations in Bougival, the separatist considers the agreement as “The illustration of contempt for administering power with regard to our fight for recognition as a colonized people”.
Loyalists denounce a “new betrayal”
This text notably provides for the creation of a “New Caledonia State” and of a Caledonian nationality, as well as the possibility of transferring sovereign skills (money, justice, police). But it does not provide for a new referendum on independence, arousing an outcry among independence activists.
Unsurprisingly, the two main movements opposed to independence (the loyalists and the rally-LR) deplored the rejection of the agreement by the FLNKS, seeing there “A denial of his signature” et “A new betrayal”. They call for creation “From an ad hoc committee, made up of loyalists and separatists favorable to the Bougival agreement, members of civil society and experts” for “Deepen certain technical aspects”.
The Caledonian deputy Nicolas Metzdorf, member of the loyalists and who sits within the Renaissance group in the Assembly, also regretted the positioning of the FLNKS in a message on X. “In New Caledonia, it’s now time for common sensehe wrote, Bougival must continue. »»
Manuel Valls wants to save the agreement
For his part, Manuel Valls announced “The week of August 18” in New Caledonia to try to save the agreement, which he presents as “A historic compromise, fruit of working month (…) with all delegations, including that of the FLNKS”.
The FLNKS also puts “In keeping the state against all new attempts to pass by force”a reference to the thaw project of the electoral body carried by Gérald Darmanin, then Minister of the Interior, despite the opposition of the FLNKS.
The mobilization of the independence camp against this project had degenerated into riots on May 13, 2024, resulting in months of clashes which left 14 dead and several billion euros in damage.