Latest news with #UnionCalédonienne
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
French court postpones release of Kanak leader following appeal
Christian Téin Photo: LNC A Parisian appellate court has delayed the release of New Caledonia's Kanak pro-independence leader, Christian Téin, from custody following an appeal by prosecutors. Téin, 57, is the head of a Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group created late 2023 by New Caledonia's largest and oldest pro-independence party Union Calédonienne. From October 2023 onward, the CCAT organised a series of marches and demonstrations that later degenerated (starting 13 May 2024) into months of civil unrest, arson and looting, causing 14 dead and an estimated €2.2 billion in material damage, mainly in the Greater Nouméa area. Since his arrest in June 2024 and his transfer (with others) by plane from New Caledonia to mainland France, Téin has been jailed in Mulhouse (north-eastern France). Late August 2024, Téin, from his Mulhouse jail, was also nominated, in absentia, president of the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), of which the Union Calédonienne party is a dominant member. In January 2025, the case, initially investigated out of Nouméa, was removed from the former investigating judges in Nouméa and transferred to a panel of three Paris judges. Téin's lawyers said they welcomed the "new approach" by the Paris judges. In a ruling last week, three magistrates found that following Téin's latest hearing, on 27 May 2025, found no sufficient grounds to keep him in custody. They decided that the Kanak leader should be released from jail, but that he should be kept under judicial supervision and prevented from returning to New Caledonia or interfering with persons related to the case. In response, the prosecution immediately appealed the ruling. The Parisian Appellate Court will now hear the case on 12 June. Nicolas Metzdorf Photo: LNC Reacting to the latest ruling to postpone hearings until 12 June, one prominent and anti-independence leader in New Caledonia, Nicolas Metzdorf (who is also an MP for New Caledonia at the French National Assembly), said he was concerned that Téin's "untimely" release could "upset the balances" of political talks currently underway to find a consensus between all political parties regarding New Caledonia's future. "I think what we need above all is serenity, calm and people who are willing to build," Metzdorf told public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie La Première on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron Photo: AFP / POOL / JEANNE ACCORSINI The talks between all New Caledonia's political groupings, both pro-France and pro-independence, resumed early 2025, fostered by French minister for overseas Emmanuel Valls. Even though Valls managed to bring back all sides to the same political table, the talks once again stalled on 8 May, after an attempted "conclave" in New Caledonia. This was mainly because prominent anti-independence parties strongly objected to Valls' proposal to introduce a "sovereignty with France", including the transfer of key powers from Paris to Nouméa, a dual Kanak/French citizenship and an international standing. Since then, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his intention to convene all parties once again, this time in Paris in early July, for fresh talks. On 30 May, one of the pro-independence leaders who was also transferred to France last year, could return home to New Caledonia. Frédérique Muliava , a former Congress staffer, was part of a group of six who were charged in relation to the May 2024 riots. Under her new judicial requirements, set out by the judge in charge of the case, Muliava, once she returns to New Caledonia, is allowed to return to work, but is not to make any contact with other individuals related to her case and not to take part in any public demonstration.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
French Minister Valls Wants All Parties To Own Their Responsibilities Ahead Of Third Trip To New Caledonia
Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia for the third time in two months, has again called all sides to live up to their responsibilities. , Correspondent French Pacific Desk French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia this week for the third time in two months, has once again called all parties to live up to their responsibilities in order to make a new political agreement possible. Failing that, he said a potential civil war was looming. 'We'll take our responsibilities, on our part, and we will put on the table a project that touches New Caledonia's society, economic recovery, including nickel, and the future of the younger generation', he told a panel of French journalists on Sunday. He said that he hoped a revised version on a draft document – resulting from his previous visits in the French Pacific territory and new proposals from the French government – there existed a 'difficult path' to possibly reconcile radically opposing views expressed so far from the pro-independence parties in New Caledonia and those who want New Caledonia to remain part of France. The target remains an agreement that would accommodate both 'the right and aspiration to self-determination' and 'the link with France'. 'If there is no agreement, then economic and political uncertainty can lead to a new disaster, to confrontation and to civil war', he told reporters. 'That is why I have appealed several times to all political stakeholders, those for and those against independence,' he warned. 'Everyone must take a step towards each other. An agreement is indispensable.' Valls said this week he hoped everyone would 'enter a real negotiations phase'. He said one of the ways to achieve this will be to find 'innovative' solutions and 'a new way of looking at the future'. This also included relevant amendments to the French Constitution. Local parties will not sign any agreement 'at all costs' Local parties are not so enthusiastic. In fact, each camp remains on their guard, in an atmosphere of defiance. And on both sides, they agree at least on one thing: they will not sign any agreement 'at all costs'. Just like has been the case since talks between Valls and local parties began earlier this year, the two main opposing camps remain adamant on their respective pre-conditions and sometimes demands. The pro-independence liberation front, the FLNKS, largely dominated by the Union Calédonienne, held at the weekend a 'convention' to decide on whether they would be attending this week's new round of talks with Valls. They eventually resolved that they would attend the new roundtables, but have not yet decided to call this 'negotiations', only 'discussions'. They said another decision would be made on Thursday 1 May, 2025, after they have examined Valls's new proposals and documents which the French minister is expected to circulate as soon as he hosts the first meeting, on Wednesday 30 April. During their weekend 'convention', the FLNKS reaffirmed their demands for a 'Kanaky Agreement' to be signed not later than 24 September 2025, to be followed by a five-year transition period. The official line was to 'maintain the trajectory' to full sovereignty, including in terms of schedule. On the pro-France side, the main pillar of their stance is the fact that three self-determination referendums have been held between 2018 and 2021, even though the third and last consultation was largely boycotted by the pro-independence camp. And that all three referendums have resulted in a vote rejecting full sovereignty. One of their most outspoken leader, Les Loyalistes party and Southern Province President Sonia Backès, told a public rally last week they refuse another date for yet another referendum. 'A new referendum would mean civil war. And we don't want to fix the date for civil war. So we don't want to fix the date for a new referendum', she said. Backès, however, said they 'still want to believe in an agreement'. 'We're part of all discussions on seeking solutions. In a constructive and creative spirit'. One of their other proposals was to grant more powers to each of the three provinces of New Caledonia, including on tax collection matters. 'We don't want differences along ethnic lines. We want the provinces to have more powers so that each of them is responsible for their respective society models'. Under a draft text leaked last week, any new referendum could only be called by at least three-fifths of the Congress and would no longer pose a 'binary' question on yes or no to independence, but would consist in endorsing a 'project' for New Caledonia's future society. Another prominent pro-France leader, MP Nicolas Metzdorf, repeated this weekend he and his supporters 'remain mobilised to defend New Caledonia within France'. 'We will not budge,' Metzdorf said. Despite Valls's warnings and urges, another scenario could also be that New Caledonia's political stakeholders could find it more appealing or convenient to agree on no agreement at all, especially as New Caledonia's crucial provincial elections are in the pipeline and scheduled for no later than 30 November this year. Concerns about security But during that same interview, Valls repeated that he remained concerned that the situation on the ground remained 'serious'. 'We are walking on a tightrope above embers'. He said top of his concerns were New Caledonia's economic and financial situation, the tense atmosphere, a resurgence in 'racism, hatred' as well as a fast-deteriorating public health services situation or the rise in poverty caused by an increasing number of jobless. 'So yes, all these risks are there, and that is why it is everyone's responsibility to find an agreement. And I will stay as long as needed and I will put all my energy so that an agreement takes place. Not for me, for them'. Valls also recalled that since insurrectional riots broke out in May 2024, almost one year ago, French security and law enforcement agencies are still maintaining about twenty squads of French gendarmes (1500 personnel) deployed there. This is on top of the normally-stationed 550 other gendarmes and another 680 police officers. Valls said this was necessary because 'any time, it could flare up again'. Outgoing French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said in an interview recently that in case of a 'new 13 May' situation, the pre-positioned forces could ensure law enforcement 'for three or four days' 'until reinforcements arrive'. If fresh violence were to erupt again, reinforcements could be sent again from mainland France and bring the total number to up to six thousand law enforcement personnel, a number similar to the level deployed in 2024 in the weeks following the riots that killed 14 and caused some €2.2 billion in material damage. Carefully chosen words Valls said earlier in April the main pillars of future negotiations are articulated around the themes of 'democracy and the rule of law', a 'decolonisation process', the right to self-determination, a future 'fundamental law' that would seal New Caledonia's future status, the powers of New Caledonia's three provinces, and a future New Caledonia citizenship with the associated definition of who meets the requirements to vote at local elections. Valls already travelled to Nouméa twice this year, in February and March 2025. He left Paris on Monday afternoon (local time) and is scheduled to touch down in New Caledonia on Tuesday, 29 April in the evening. Since his last visit that ended on 1 April, discussions have been maintained in visio conference mode between local political stakeholders and Valls, his cabinet, as well as French Prime Minister François Bayrou's special advisor on New Caledonia, constitutionalist Eric Thiers.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
French Minister Valls Wants All Parties To Own Their Responsibilities Ahead Of Third Trip To New Caledonia
Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia for the third time in two months, has again called all sides to live up to their responsibilities. , Correspondent French Pacific Desk French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia this week for the third time in two months, has once again called all parties to live up to their responsibilities in order to make a new political agreement possible. Failing that, he said a potential civil war was looming. 'We'll take our responsibilities, on our part, and we will put on the table a project that touches New Caledonia's society, economic recovery, including nickel, and the future of the younger generation', he told a panel of French journalists on Sunday. He said that he hoped a revised version on a draft document – resulting from his previous visits in the French Pacific territory and new proposals from the French government – there existed a 'difficult path' to possibly reconcile radically opposing views expressed so far from the pro-independence parties in New Caledonia and those who want New Caledonia to remain part of France. The target remains an agreement that would accommodate both 'the right and aspiration to self-determination' and 'the link with France'. 'If there is no agreement, then economic and political uncertainty can lead to a new disaster, to confrontation and to civil war', he told reporters. 'That is why I have appealed several times to all political stakeholders, those for and those against independence,' he warned. 'Everyone must take a step towards each other. An agreement is indispensable.' Valls said this week he hoped everyone would 'enter a real negotiations phase'. He said one of the ways to achieve this will be to find 'innovative' solutions and 'a new way of looking at the future'. This also included relevant amendments to the French Constitution. Local parties will not sign any agreement 'at all costs' Local parties are not so enthusiastic. In fact, each camp remains on their guard, in an atmosphere of defiance. And on both sides, they agree at least on one thing: they will not sign any agreement 'at all costs'. Just like has been the case since talks between Valls and local parties began earlier this year, the two main opposing camps remain adamant on their respective pre-conditions and sometimes demands. The pro-independence liberation front, the FLNKS, largely dominated by the Union Calédonienne, held at the weekend a 'convention' to decide on whether they would be attending this week's new round of talks with Valls. They eventually resolved that they would attend the new roundtables, but have not yet decided to call this 'negotiations', only 'discussions'. They said another decision would be made on Thursday 1 May, 2025, after they have examined Valls's new proposals and documents which the French minister is expected to circulate as soon as he hosts the first meeting, on Wednesday 30 April. During their weekend 'convention', the FLNKS reaffirmed their demands for a 'Kanaky Agreement' to be signed not later than 24 September 2025, to be followed by a five-year transition period. The official line was to 'maintain the trajectory' to full sovereignty, including in terms of schedule. On the pro-France side, the main pillar of their stance is the fact that three self-determination referendums have been held between 2018 and 2021, even though the third and last consultation was largely boycotted by the pro-independence camp. And that all three referendums have resulted in a vote rejecting full sovereignty. One of their most outspoken leader, Les Loyalistes party and Southern Province President Sonia Backès, told a public rally last week they refuse another date for yet another referendum. 'A new referendum would mean civil war. And we don't want to fix the date for civil war. So we don't want to fix the date for a new referendum', she said. Backès, however, said they 'still want to believe in an agreement'. 'We're part of all discussions on seeking solutions. In a constructive and creative spirit'. One of their other proposals was to grant more powers to each of the three provinces of New Caledonia, including on tax collection matters. 'We don't want differences along ethnic lines. We want the provinces to have more powers so that each of them is responsible for their respective society models'. Under a draft text leaked last week, any new referendum could only be called by at least three-fifths of the Congress and would no longer pose a 'binary' question on yes or no to independence, but would consist in endorsing a 'project' for New Caledonia's future society. Another prominent pro-France leader, MP Nicolas Metzdorf, repeated this weekend he and his supporters 'remain mobilised to defend New Caledonia within France'. 'We will not budge,' Metzdorf said. Despite Valls's warnings and urges, another scenario could also be that New Caledonia's political stakeholders could find it more appealing or convenient to agree on no agreement at all, especially as New Caledonia's crucial provincial elections are in the pipeline and scheduled for no later than 30 November this year. Concerns about security But during that same interview, Valls repeated that he remained concerned that the situation on the ground remained 'serious'. 'We are walking on a tightrope above embers'. He said top of his concerns were New Caledonia's economic and financial situation, the tense atmosphere, a resurgence in 'racism, hatred' as well as a fast-deteriorating public health services situation or the rise in poverty caused by an increasing number of jobless. 'So yes, all these risks are there, and that is why it is everyone's responsibility to find an agreement. And I will stay as long as needed and I will put all my energy so that an agreement takes place. Not for me, for them'. Valls also recalled that since insurrectional riots broke out in May 2024, almost one year ago, French security and law enforcement agencies are still maintaining about twenty squads of French gendarmes (1500 personnel) deployed there. This is on top of the normally-stationed 550 other gendarmes and another 680 police officers. Valls said this was necessary because 'any time, it could flare up again'. Outgoing French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said in an interview recently that in case of a 'new 13 May' situation, the pre-positioned forces could ensure law enforcement 'for three or four days' 'until reinforcements arrive'. If fresh violence were to erupt again, reinforcements could be sent again from mainland France and bring the total number to up to six thousand law enforcement personnel, a number similar to the level deployed in 2024 in the weeks following the riots that killed 14 and caused some €2.2 billion in material damage. Carefully chosen words Valls said earlier in April the main pillars of future negotiations are articulated around the themes of 'democracy and the rule of law', a 'decolonisation process', the right to self-determination, a future 'fundamental law' that would seal New Caledonia's future status, the powers of New Caledonia's three provinces, and a future New Caledonia citizenship with the associated definition of who meets the requirements to vote at local elections. Valls already travelled to Nouméa twice this year, in February and March 2025. He left Paris on Monday afternoon (local time) and is scheduled to touch down in New Caledonia on Tuesday, 29 April in the evening. Since his last visit that ended on 1 April, discussions have been maintained in visio conference mode between local political stakeholders and Valls, his cabinet, as well as French Prime Minister François Bayrou's special advisor on New Caledonia, constitutionalist Eric Thiers.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
French Minister Valls Wants All Parties To Own Their Responsibilities Ahead Of Third Trip To New Caledonia
, Correspondent French Pacific Desk French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia this week for the third time in two months, has once again called all parties to live up to their responsibilities in order to make a new political agreement possible. Failing that, he said a potential civil war was looming. "We'll take our responsibilities, on our part, and we will put on the table a project that touches New Caledonia's society, economic recovery, including nickel, and the future of the younger generation", he told a panel of French journalists on Sunday. He said that he hoped a revised version on a draft document - resulting from his previous visits in the French Pacific territory and new proposals from the French government - there existed a "difficult path" to possibly reconcile radically opposing views expressed so far from the pro-independence parties in New Caledonia and those who want New Caledonia to remain part of France. The target remains an agreement that would accommodate both "the right and aspiration to self-determination" and "the link with France". "If there is no agreement, then economic and political uncertainty can lead to a new disaster, to confrontation and to civil war", he told reporters. "That is why I have appealed several times to all political stakeholders, those for and those against independence," he warned. "Everyone must take a step towards each other. An agreement is indispensable." Valls said this week he hoped everyone would "enter a real negotiations phase". He said one of the ways to achieve this will be to find "innovative" solutions and "a new way of looking at the future". This also included relevant amendments to the French Constitution. Local parties will not sign any agreement 'at all costs' Local parties are not so enthusiastic. In fact, each camp remains on their guard, in an atmosphere of defiance. And on both sides, they agree at least on one thing: they will not sign any agreement "at all costs". Just like has been the case since talks between Valls and local parties began earlier this year, the two main opposing camps remain adamant on their respective pre-conditions and sometimes demands. The pro-independence liberation front, the FLNKS, largely dominated by the Union Calédonienne, held at the weekend a "convention" to decide on whether they would be attending this week's new round of talks with Valls. They eventually resolved that they would attend the new roundtables, but have not yet decided to call this "negotiations", only "discussions". They said another decision would be made on Thursday 1 May, 2025, after they have examined Valls's new proposals and documents which the French minister is expected to circulate as soon as he hosts the first meeting, on Wednesday 30 April. During their weekend "convention", the FLNKS reaffirmed their demands for a "Kanaky Agreement" to be signed not later than 24 September 2025, to be followed by a five-year transition period. The official line was to "maintain the trajectory" to full sovereignty, including in terms of schedule. On the pro-France side, the main pillar of their stance is the fact that three self-determination referendums have been held between 2018 and 2021, even though the third and last consultation was largely boycotted by the pro-independence camp. And that all three referendums have resulted in a vote rejecting full sovereignty. One of their most outspoken leader, Les Loyalistes party and Southern Province President Sonia Backès, told a public rally last week they refuse another date for yet another referendum. "A new referendum would mean civil war. And we don't want to fix the date for civil war. So we don't want to fix the date for a new referendum", she said. Backès, however, said they "still want to believe in an agreement". "We're part of all discussions on seeking solutions. In a constructive and creative spirit". One of their other proposals was to grant more powers to each of the three provinces of New Caledonia, including on tax collection matters. "We don't want differences along ethnic lines. We want the provinces to have more powers so that each of them is responsible for their respective society models". Under a draft text leaked last week, any new referendum could only be called by at least three-fifths of the Congress and would no longer pose a "binary" question on yes or no to independence, but would consist in endorsing a "project" for New Caledonia's future society. Another prominent pro-France leader, MP Nicolas Metzdorf, repeated this weekend he and his supporters "remain mobilised to defend New Caledonia within France". "We will not budge," Metzdorf said. Despite Valls's warnings and urges, another scenario could also be that New Caledonia's political stakeholders could find it more appealing or convenient to agree on no agreement at all, especially as New Caledonia's crucial provincial elections are in the pipeline and scheduled for no later than 30 November this year. Concerns about security But during that same interview, Valls repeated that he remained concerned that the situation on the ground remained "serious". "We are walking on a tightrope above embers". He said top of his concerns were New Caledonia's economic and financial situation, the tense atmosphere, a resurgence in "racism, hatred" as well as a fast-deteriorating public health services situation or the rise in poverty caused by an increasing number of jobless. "So yes, all these risks are there, and that is why it is everyone's responsibility to find an agreement. And I will stay as long as needed and I will put all my energy so that an agreement takes place. Not for me, for them". Valls also recalled that since insurrectional riots broke out in May 2024, almost one year ago, French security and law enforcement agencies are still maintaining about twenty squads of French gendarmes (1500 personnel) deployed there. This is on top of the normally-stationed 550 other gendarmes and another 680 police officers. Valls said this was necessary because "any time, it could flare up again". Outgoing French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said in an interview recently that in case of a "new 13 May" situation, the pre-positioned forces could ensure law enforcement "for three or four days" "until reinforcements arrive". If fresh violence were to erupt again, reinforcements could be sent again from mainland France and bring the total number to up to six thousand law enforcement personnel, a number similar to the level deployed in 2024 in the weeks following the riots that killed 14 and caused some €2.2 billion in material damage. Carefully chosen words Valls said earlier in April the main pillars of future negotiations are articulated around the themes of "democracy and the rule of law", a "decolonisation process", the right to self-determination, a future "fundamental law" that would seal New Caledonia's future status, the powers of New Caledonia's three provinces, and a future New Caledonia citizenship with the associated definition of who meets the requirements to vote at local elections. Valls already travelled to Nouméa twice this year, in February and March 2025. He left Paris on Monday afternoon (local time) and is scheduled to touch down in New Caledonia on Tuesday, 29 April in the evening. Since his last visit that ended on 1 April, discussions have been maintained in visio conference mode between local political stakeholders and Valls, his cabinet, as well as French Prime Minister François Bayrou's special advisor on New Caledonia, constitutionalist Eric Thiers.
RNZ News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
French Minister Valls wants all parties to own their responsibilities ahead of third trip to New Caledonia
Union Calédonienne President Emmanuel Tjibaou [blue shirt] and other participants at the pro-independence FLNKS convention in Yaté, New Caledonia on 26 April 2025. Photo: RRB French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia this week for the third time in two months, has once again called all parties to live up to their responsibilities in order to make a new political agreement possible. Failing that, he said a potential civil war was looming. "We'll take our responsibilities, on our part, and we will put on the table a project that touches New Caledonia's society, economic recovery, including nickel, and the future of the younger generation", he told a panel of French journalists on Sunday . He said that he hoped a revised version on a draft document - resulting from his previous visits in the French Pacific territory and new proposals from the French government - there existed a "difficult path" to possibly reconcile radically opposing views expressed so far from the pro-independence parties in New Caledonia and those who want New Caledonia to remain part of France. The target remains an agreement that would accommodate both "the right and aspiration to self-determination" and "the link with France". "If there is no agreement, then economic and political uncertainty can lead to a new disaster, to confrontation and to civil war", he told reporters. "That is why I have appealed several times to all political stakeholders, those for and those against independence," he warned. "Everyone must take a step towards each other. An agreement is indispensable." Valls said this week he hoped everyone would "enter a real negotiations phase". He said one of the ways to achieve this will be to find "innovative" solutions and "a new way of looking at the future". This also included relevant amendments to the French Constitution. France's Minister of Overseas Manuel Valls (front L) greets the President of the Government of New Caledonia Alcide Ponga (R) as Senator Georges Naturel (C) looks on during his arrival for a military honours ceremony at the Croix de Lorraine in Noumea, France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, on February 22, 2025. Photo: Delphine Mayeur / AFP Local parties are not so enthusiastic. In fact, each camp remains on their guard, in an atmosphere of defiance. And on both sides, they agree at least on one thing: they will not sign any agreement "at all costs". Just like has been the case since talks between Valls and local parties began earlier this year, the two main opposing camps remain adamant on their respective pre-conditions and sometimes demands. The pro-independence liberation front, the FLNKS, largely dominated by the Union Calédonienne, held at the weekend a "convention" to decide on whether they would be attending this week's new round of talks with Valls. They eventually resolved that they would attend the new roundtables, but have not yet decided to call this "negotiations", only "discussions". They said another decision would be made on Thursday 1 May, 2025, after they have examined Valls's new proposals and documents which the French minister is expected to circulate as soon as he hosts the first meeting, on Wednesday 30 April. During their weekend "convention", the FLNKS reaffirmed their demands for a "Kanaky Agreement" to be signed not later than 24 September 2025, to be followed by a five-year transition period. The official line was to "maintain the trajectory" to full sovereignty, including in terms of schedule. On the pro-France side, the main pillar of their stance is the fact that three self-determination referendums have been held between 2018 and 2021, even though the third and last consultation was largely boycotted by the pro-independence camp. And that all three referendums have resulted in a vote rejecting full sovereignty. One of their most outspoken leader, Les Loyalistes party and Southern Province President Sonia Backès, told a public rally last week they refuse another date for yet another referendum. "A new referendum would mean civil war. And we don't want to fix the date for civil war. So we don't want to fix the date for a new referendum", she said. Backès, however, said they "still want to believe in an agreement". "We're part of all discussions on seeking solutions. In a constructive and creative spirit". One of their other proposals was to grant more powers to each of the three provinces of New Caledonia, including on tax collection matters. "We don't want differences along ethnic lines. We want the provinces to have more powers so that each of them is responsible for their respective society models". Under a draft text leaked last week, any new referendum could only be called by at least three-fifths of the Congress and would no longer pose a "binary" question on yes or no to independence, but would consist in endorsing a "project" for New Caledonia's future society. Another prominent pro-France leader, MP Nicolas Metzdorf, repeated this weekend he and his supporters "remain mobilised to defend New Caledonia within France". "We will not budge," Metzdorf said. Despite Valls's warnings and urges, another scenario could also be that New Caledonia's political stakeholders could find it more appealing or convenient to agree on no agreement at all, especially as New Caledonia's crucial provincial elections are in the pipeline and scheduled for no later than 30 November this year. But during that same interview, Valls repeated that he remained concerned that the situation on the ground remained "serious". "We are walking on a tightrope above embers". He said top of his concerns were New Caledonia's economic and financial situation, the tense atmosphere, a resurgence in "racism, hatred" as well as a fast-deteriorating public health services situation or the rise in poverty caused by an increasing number of jobless. "So yes, all these risks are there, and that is why it is everyone's responsibility to find an agreement. And I will stay as long as needed and I will put all my energy so that an agreement takes place. Not for me, for them". Valls also recalled that since insurrectional riots broke out in May 2024, almost one year ago, French security and law enforcement agencies are still maintaining about twenty squads of French gendarmes (1500 personnel) deployed there. This is on top of the normally-stationed 550 other gendarmes and another 680 police officers. Valls said this was necessary because "any time, it could flare up again". Outgoing French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said in an interview recently that in case of a "new 13 May" situation, the pre-positioned forces could ensure law enforcement "for three or four days" "until reinforcements arrive". If fresh violence were to erupt again, reinforcements could be sent again from mainland France and bring the total number to up to six thousand law enforcement personnel, a number similar to the level deployed in 2024 in the weeks following the riots that killed 14 and caused some €2.2 billion in material damage. Valls said earlier in April the main pillars of future negotiations are articulated around the themes of "democracy and the rule of law", a "decolonisation process", the right to self-determination, a future "fundamental law" that would seal New Caledonia's future status, the powers of New Caledonia's three provinces, and a future New Caledonia citizenship with the associated definition of who meets the requirements to vote at local elections. Valls already travelled to Nouméa twice this year, in February and March 2025. He left Paris on Monday afternoon (local time) and is scheduled to touch down in New Caledonia on Tuesday, 29 April in the evening. Since his last visit that ended on 1 April, discussions have been maintained in visio conference mode between local political stakeholders and Valls, his cabinet, as well as French Prime Minister François Bayrou's special advisor on New Caledonia, constitutionalist Eric Thiers.
