New Caledonia's provincial elections have already been postponed several times. Photo: AFP / Fiora Garenzi / Hans Lucas
French MPs narrowly endorsed the postponement of New Caledonia's provincial elections to no later than 28 June 2026 In a crucial vote in Paris on Tuesday.
It comes as newly appointed Overseas Minister Naïma Moutchou prepares to visit the French Pacific territory for more talks on its political future.
The vote took place in the Lower House, the National Assembly, in a climate of division between national parties.
It was a narrow score, with 279 MPs backing the postponement and 247 voting against the "Constitutional organic" Bill.
279 French MPs backed the postponement. Photo: AFP / Magali Cohen
A final vote (298 for and 39 against) in the other chamber, the Senate (Upper House), on Wednesday (Paris time) in a relatively less adverse environment, was regarded as a sheer formality.
After this, the French Constitutional Council is to deliver its ruling on the conformity of the text.
New Caledonia's provincial elections have already been postponed several times: originally set for May 2024, they had to be delayed due to the insurrectional riots that took place, then further delayed from December 2024 to November 2025.
As part of an emergency parliamentary procedure, a bipartisan committee earlier this week also modified the small text (which contains only three paragraphs), mainly to delete any reference to an agreement project signed in July 2025 in Bougival (near Paris).
The text was supposed to serve as the blueprint for New Caledonia's future status. It contained plans to make New Caledonia a "State" within France's realm and to provide a new "nationality", as well as transferring powers from Paris to Nouméa (including foreign affairs).
The "agreement project" was initially signed by all of New Caledonia's political parties, but one of the main components of the pro-independence movement, the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) later said it withdrew its negotiators' signatures.
The FLNKS said this was because the agreement was not in line with its aim of full sovereignty and was merely a "lure of independence".
The party has since reaffirmed that it did not want to have anything to do with the "Bougival" text.
No more mention of Bougival
The bipartisan committee modified the Bill's title accordingly, introducing, in the new version, "to allow the pursuit of consensual discussions on New Caledonia's institutional future".
The modifications to the Bill have been described as a way of allowing discussions and, even though no longer specifically mentioned, to use the Bougival accord as a base for further talks, mainly with the FLNKS.
"This is a political message to the FLNKS, Bill rapporteur Philippe Gosselin (Les Républicains -centre right-) said this week.
Emmanuel Tjibaou, middle, maintains his opposition to the modified text. Photo: Supplied / RRB
One of the FLNKS key representatives at the National Assembly, pro-independence Emmanuel Tjibaou (who also chairs Union Calédonienne party, the main component of FLNKS), however maintained his opposition to the modified text.
The postponement was also said to be designed to "give more time" to possible discussions.
The other National Assembly MP for New Caledonia, pro-France Nicolas Metzdorf, said even though the name of Bougival was eventually removed, "everyone knows we will continue to talk from the basis of Bougival, because these are the most advanced bases in the negotiations".
Tjibaou said the slight change can be regarded as "an essential detail" and mark "a new sequence" in future political talks.
"We're still in the negotiating phase."
However, he maintained his stance against the postponement of the local polls, saying this was a "denial of democracy".
"The bill was originally designed to postpone provincial elections to allow Bougival's implementation. Then they remove any mention of Bougival and then they say 'we vote for the postponement'. What are we talking about? It just doesn't make sense", he said.
Tjibaou's FLNKS has called for a peaceful march on Friday 31 October 2025 to voice its opposition to the postponement of local elections.
Naïma Moutchou Photo: AFP / Magali Cohen
Newly-appointed French Minister for Overseas Naïma Moutchou is expected to arrive in New Caledonia on Saturday.
Since she was appointed earlier this month in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu (who was also Minister for Overseas between 2000 and 2022), Moutchou has repeated her door remained open to further talks with FLNKS and that "nothing can be done" without the FLNKS as long as FLNKS "does not want to do things without the (other parties)".
In New Caledonia, she said she would "meet all of the partners to examine how an agreement can be implemented".
Ahead of her trip that will be her baptism of fire, Moutchou also spent hours in video conference talks with New Caledonia's key politicians earlier this week.
"My approach will be based on dialogue, consistency and respect. Nothing should be rushed. It's all about refining and clarifying certain points".
Under the Bougival text, several key aspects of New Caledonia's future remain highly sensitive. This includes a "comprehensive" agreement that would lift restrictions to the list of people entitled to vote at local provincial elections.
Since 2007, until now, under the existing Nouméa Accord (signed in 1998), only people who were born or resided in New Caledonia before 1998 are entitle to cast their votes for the local polls.
Under the Bougival roadmap, the "special" electoral roll would be "unfrozen" to allow French citizens to vote, provided they have resided for 15 (and a later stage 10) uninterrupted years, as well as those who were born in New Caledonia after 1998.
The change would mean the inclusion of about 15,000 "natives" and up to 25,000 long-term residents, according to conservative estimates.
The May 2024 civil unrest caused significant damages to New Caledonia's economy. Photo: AP / Nicolas Job
The sensitive subject was regarded as the main trigger for civil unrest that started in May 2024 and caused 14 deaths, over €2 billion in material damage and a drop of 13.5 percent of New Caledonia's gross domestic product (GDP).
MP Arthur Delaporte (Socialist party), who backed the modifications on 27 October at the bipartisan committee, assured his party would not support any constitutional reform that would not have been the result of a consensus or could be regarded as a "passage en force".
The warning is especially meaningful on a backdrop of persistent instability in the French Parliament.
Lecornu is leading his second Cabinet since he was appointed early September 2025 - his first was short-lived and only lasted 14 hours.
He has since narrowly survived two motions of no-confidence.
