1985 New Caledonian legislative election

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Politics of New Caledonia
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Early legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 29 September 1985.[1] They were called after the 1984 elections had been boycotted by the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) and were marred by violence that continued for several weeks after election day.

Following an agreement reached between the French government and pro- and anti-independence groups, New Caledonia was split into four regions, each with its own Assembly, with the members of the four assemblies uniting to form the territorial Congress, which replaced the Territorial Assembly.

The FLNKS won a majority in three of the four regional assemblies, with the Caldoche-backed Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (RPCR) won a large majority in the Nouméa region. However, with the South region having by far the largest population, the RCPR received 61% of the total vote across the territory and won 26 of the 46 seats in Congress, with the FLNKS winning 16.[1]

Campaign[]

Several French prominent politicians visited the territory during the election campaign to support the RPCR, including Jacques Chirac and Francois Leotard of the Rally for the Republic, Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front and Gaston Flosse, president of French Polynesia.[1]

Conduct[]

Although election day was violence-free, a bomb was detonated at the Land Office and Office for the Development of the Interior and the Islands in Nouméa on the day before.[1]

Results[]

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic 37,148 52.00 25 –9
Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front 20,545 28.76 16 New
National Front 5,263 7.37 3 +2
Kanak Socialist Liberation 4,594 6.43 1 –5
Political Organisation of the Alliances of Opao 2,317 3.24 0 New
Peace and Custom Rally 1,058 1.48 1 New
New Caledonia 516 0.72 0 New
Invalid/blank votes 1,042 – – –
Total 72,483 100 46 +4
Registered voters/turnout 89,906 80.62 – –
Source: Clark[2]

By region[]

Party Centre Loyalty Islands North Nouméa/South
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic 5,003 41.86 4 2,640 28.04 2 2,890 23.33 2 26,615 70.62 17
Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front 5,434 45.47 5 4,908 52.13 4 7,383 59.61 6 2,820 7.48 1
National Front – – – – – – – – – 5,263 13.96 3
Kanak Socialist Liberation 788 6.59 0 1,867 19.83 1 709 5.72 0 1,230 3.26 0
Political Organisation of the Alliances of Opao 726 6.07 0 – – – 346 2.79 0 1,245 3.30 0
Peace and Custom Rally – – – – – – 1,058 8.54 1 – – –
New Caledonia – – – – – – – – – 516 1.37 0
Invalid/blank votes 110 – – 570 – – 76 – – 286 – –
Total 12,061 100 9 9,985 100 7 12,462 100 9 37,975 100 21
Registered voters/turnout 14,260 84.58 – 11,806 84.58 – 15,157 82.22 – 48,683 78.00 –
Source: Clark[2]

Aftermath[]

The regional assemblies convened on 6 October to elect their presidents; Léopold Jorédié (FLNKS) was elected in the Central region, (FLNKS) in the Loyalty Islands, Jean-Marie Tjibaou (FLNKS) in North region and Jean Lèques (RPCR) in the South region. Two days later Dick Ukeiwé was elected President of the Congress, defeating Tjibaou by 29 votes to 13.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Vitalk win for Kanaks... but will 'fortress Noumea' open its doors Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1985, pp13–14
  2. ^ a b Alan Clark (1987) "Conflict formal and informal: Elections in New Caledonia, 1984–1986" Pacific Studies, volume 10, number 3
  3. ^ Caledonia councils elect leaders Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1985, p7
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