Chirac Avoids 'Who Can Vote' Issue

Presidential wave...Jacques Chirac in New Caledonia. Photo: Tuo Chinula.

The president, who visited New Caledonia in July, did not make any surprise announcements but his promises of financial support to the territory were much appreciated.

Not everyone gave him a warm welcome. Several trade unions held protests to perturb the visit. The influential USTKE protested throughout his visit. The union wanted to highlight political, social and economic grievances but also to demand the release of jailed French trade unionist José Bové.

Interestingly, Bové obtained his freedom a week after the president's Pacific tour. He left the French prison where he had been detained wearing a shirt in the pro-independence Kanak colours.

The FLNKS political faction Union Calédonienne (UC) also boycotted the visit and organised several protests. Its largest turnout was in Koné where several hundred UC protestors brandishing banners with anti-Chirac slogans gathered opposite the Northern Province headquarters. Shortly after the president's arrival they tried to break through a security cordon but were pushed back with tear gas.

During his visit, Chirac showed particular interest in the Northern Province's nickel processing plant project. The project is seen as the main catalyst for economic rebalancing. Besides promises of financial aid, the president gave the project his personal support.

A topic many New Caledonians were impatient to hear him speak about was the problem regarding the make-up of the electoral corps. The problem stems from the different interpretations of the Noumea Accord. Independence advocates want a frozen electoral corps and believe only a certain portion of the population should be entitled to vote in provincial and territorial elections. This would exclude French nationals who arrived after the accord was signed. Anti-independence parties however, believe all French nationals living in New Caledonia should be able to vote.

Chirac refused to have the issue offloaded onto France saying it was not up to the French government to resolve such a legally complex and politically sensitive issue. He proposed to work with the other partners of the Noumea Accord to find a solution through dialogue which would be acceptable to everyone. Chirac committed himself to resolving the issue before the end of his presidential term in 2007.