Posted
Update
New Caledonia remains French, Sunday December 12. If the result of the third and final referendum is unequivocal, it remains marked by massive abstention. Emmanuel Macron declared that a “transition period will begin”.
In Noumea (New Caledonia), New Caledonians sing The Marseillaise, to celebrate the victory of the no to independence in this third and last referendum, Sunday 12 December. As here in Ouvéa, the no to independence won by an overwhelming majority (94.49%), but turnout turned out to be very low (43.90%).
The separatists had called for a boycott of this third referendum. They demanded its postponement because of the health situation. When the results were announced, Emmanuel Macron took note of this context of strong abstention by emphasizing after this vote, his pride for the nation. “The Caledonians have chosen to remain French. They decided it freely. Tonight, France is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to stay there“, did he declare. An 18-month transition period opens to now define the level of autonomy in an archipelago still so fractured, despite this third rejection of independence.