Paris, January 19 – The second day of institutional discussions concerning New Caledonia’s future concluded late Sunday night in Paris, extending into the early hours of Monday. Delegations, invited by the Elysée, met at the Ministry of Overseas Territories, but no immediate statements were made upon their exit. Economic discussions, a crucial component of the ongoing negotiations, have been rescheduled for Monday morning.
Intense Political Discussions Precede Economic Agenda
The day was marked by prolonged, closed-door meetings. Tensions, which reportedly surfaced on Saturday evening, appeared to escalate during Sunday’s sessions at the Ministry of Overseas Territories. Since Friday, four out of five groups represented in the New Caledonian Congress have been present at these talks, aiming to clarify the Bougival agreement, now referred to as the July 12, 2025 document. The FLNKS, the main pro-independence party, did not attend, stating that “Paris only understands power struggles.”
Originally, Sunday was slated for discussions on the territory’s economic refoundation pact. However, the delegations continued to deliberate on the country’s institutional framework. Following late-night discussions on Saturday, New Caledonian officials engaged in improvised bilateral meetings with the minister on Sunday morning.
Key Sticking Points Remain
The primary points of contention mirror those encountered on Saturday: the self-determination sought by the independentists and the transfer of competencies from New Caledonia to the provinces, advocated by some of the more radical non-independentists. This latter point lacks approval from both independentist and moderate non-independentist factions.
Naima Moutchou, the Minister of Overseas Territories, participated in a meeting with a delegation of New Caledonian representatives at the Ministry of Overseas Territories in Paris on January 17, 2026. After resuming general discussions in the early afternoon, the Caledonians reportedly decided to take responsibility for drafting a consensus document. As some officials confided on Sunday morning, the economic and institutional agreements are intrinsically linked: “one does not go without the other,” as Sonia Backès reiterated.
Consequently, the planned economic discussions could not commence without a political agreement on the functioning of the institutions. The delegations did not depart from Rue Oudinot until 1:00 AM, in the night from Sunday to Monday. No statements were made. Nevertheless, meetings are scheduled to resume at 10:00 AM on Monday (8:00 PM New Caledonia time) to address the economic aspects.
Crucial Economic Agreement on the Horizon
All parties have unequivocally stated that the New Caledonian economy is in decline. In 2024, the territory’s gross domestic product saw a significant drop of 13.5%. As part of the Bougival agreement, the Prime Minister announced an economic refoundation pact totaling 2.2 billion euros (262 billion Pacific francs), contingent on local authorities committing to structural reforms.
A substantial portion of this aid will be provided through subsidies, while other funds will be secured by a state-guaranteed loan. “We truly need the State,” insisted Gil Brial of the Loyalist delegation. “New Caledonia has never been as dependent on France as it is today. We need urgent and massive measures.” The nickel industry is also expected to benefit from a specific plan currently under development.
This aerial view of Voh in northern New Caledonia shows nickel extraction at the Koniambo Nickel SAS (KNS) site. Philippe Dunoyer of Calédonie ensemble lamented on Sunday morning that the economic refoundation pact is “absolutely essential,” and the short-term commitments made by the State are “insufficient.”
If the parties and the government reach an agreement, the resulting document, to be named Elysée-Oudinot, would complement the Bougival agreement of July 12, 2025. This new document could potentially be ratified at the Elysée as early as the beginning of the week.
Source: https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/nouvelle-caledonie-toujours-pas-d-accord-institutionnel-a-paris-le-pacte-de-refondation-economique-pas-encore-aborde-1662536.html
