New Caledonian legislative election, 2009
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in New Caledonia
on 10 May 2009. Voters in New Caledonia chose 76 candidates for the French territory's three provincial assemblies. Fifty-four of these 76 members were also to become members of the Congress of New Caledonia. Members of the Congress of New Caledonia serve 5-year terms in office upon their election.
The Labour Party
, which had been founded in 2007 as the political arm of the pro-independence Union of Kanaky Workers and the Exploited (Union syndicale des travailleurs kanaks et des exploités, USTKE), contested the elections for the first time and hoped to gain 12,000 votes and a seat. Due to splits in the two main parties of the anti-independence front, the Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
and Future Together
(from which Caledonia Together
split off in October 2008), the main pro-independence party, Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
, hoped to become the largest party in these elections.
of 1998. Apart from the island's political future, the economy and New Caledonia's high cost of living were the main issue in the election campaign.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
on 10 May 2009. Voters in New Caledonia chose 76 candidates for the French territory's three provincial assemblies. Fifty-four of these 76 members were also to become members of the Congress of New Caledonia. Members of the Congress of New Caledonia serve 5-year terms in office upon their election.
The Labour Party
Labour Party (New Caledonia)
The Labour Party is a New Caledonian political party established on 18 November 2007. It is radically pro-independence and backed by the trade union Union of Kanak Workers and the Exploited...
, which had been founded in 2007 as the political arm of the pro-independence Union of Kanaky Workers and the Exploited (Union syndicale des travailleurs kanaks et des exploités, USTKE), contested the elections for the first time and hoped to gain 12,000 votes and a seat. Due to splits in the two main parties of the anti-independence front, the Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
The The Rally–UMP is a conservative political party in New Caledonia, strongly supportive of the French status of the region; it is affiliated with the French Union for a Popular Movement.-History:...
and Future Together
Future Together
The Future Together is a center-right political party in New Caledonia supporting the maintenance of political and administrative ties with France....
(from which Caledonia Together
Caledonia Together
Caledonia Together is a New Caledonian political party established on 14 October 2008 as a split from Future Together led by Philippe Gomès. It is centrist and it is opposed to independence.Future Together, a centrist party founded in 2004 split in 2008...
split off in October 2008), the main pro-independence party, Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front is a militant socialist pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various political parties, mainly indigenous but also of disgruntled and progressive New Caledonians of European...
, hoped to become the largest party in these elections.
Election issues
The new territorial Congress will have to decide how to implement the autonomy provisions of the Noumea AccordNouméa Accord
The Nouméa Accord of 1998 promises to grant political power to New Caledonia and its original population, the Kanaks, until the territory decides whether to remain within the French Republic or become an independent state in a referendum to be held between 2014 and 2019...
of 1998. Apart from the island's political future, the economy and New Caledonia's high cost of living were the main issue in the election campaign.