Constitutional Bill on New Caledonia Faces Deluge of Amendments in Paris
Paris, March 29 – The constitutional bill on New Caledonia is facing a new challenge: a flood of thousands of amendments filed on Saturday. This comes after its recent rejection by the National Assembly’s Law Committee, highlighting the intense political climate surrounding the reform.
A Text Under Scrutiny
The constitutional reform bill for New Caledonia is intended to translate the “Bougival” agreement, signed in the summer of 2025 between the Parisian executive and local political forces, and further supplemented by the “Élysée-Oudinot” agreement in January. This text proposes a referendum where New Caledonian voters would approve or reject an agreement foreseeing the creation of a “State of New Caledonia” with its own nationality.
However, other provisions, while supported by most local stakeholders, are heavily criticized, particularly by the left, due to the opposition of the FLNKS, the main Kanak independence movement.
Key Points of Contention
Firstly, the provincial elections calendar is a major point of contention. Already postponed three times since May 2024, these elections are supposed to take place before the end of June. However, the reform proposes a fourth postponement until the end of 2026, which is contested by the opposition.
Even more sensitive is the electoral roll. Currently restricted to individuals settled in New Caledonia before 1998 and their descendants, the right to vote in these elections would be expanded. This expansion is strongly opposed by separatists who fear a dilution of the Kanak vote. The agreement notably provides for opening the vote to New Caledonia natives, their spouses under certain conditions, and residents for at least fifteen years.
Over 3,000 Amendments Filed
The bill is far from achieving unanimous support at the national level. Its recent rejection by the National Assembly’s Law Committee, while not directly impacting the process, speaks volumes about the tense atmosphere surrounding the reform project. The government’s text is expected to be debated in the hemicycle on Wednesday for three days of examination, which appears to be a short timeframe to review more than 3,000 amendments. A significant portion of these amendments has been filed by La France insoumise (LFI) and the Communist group, though some may still be declared inadmissible.
Political Maneuvering and Potential Compromise
A motion to reject the text has already been announced by the Communist group. The National Rally (RN), which opposes the agreement in its current form and the postponement of elections, is “probably” heading towards a vote on this motion, according to a group official on Friday. However, the final decision will be made by Marine Le Pen before the examination in the hemicycle.
A rejection in the Assembly would send the text back to the Senate. According to several parliamentary sources, this could paradoxically open a path to compromise. They suggest that if it is accepted that the reform is too divisive, an option could be to profoundly modify the text or pass a new law to only partially expand the electoral roll before the elections, hoping to reach an agreement with the FLNKS on the scope.
“We will not force it through, but we cannot wait indefinitely,” assures the entourage of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. His team also expressed readiness to consider a public consultation “unrelated to parliamentary examination,” as requested by “Caledonian parties,” stating that “everything is on the table to move forward.”
Source: https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/nouvellecaledonie/a-paris-le-projet-de-loi-constitutionnelle-sur-la-nouvelle-caledonie-fait-face-a-une-nouvelle-difficulte-un-deluge-d-amendements-1686185.html
