Security forces have been sent to New Caledonia, a French overseas territory, following indigenous riots against more people of European descent voting. The riots have claimed four lives, and hundreds have been arrested.
“Reinforcements will arrive massively, immediately (and will be) deployed to control the areas which have escaped our control in recent days… to reconquer all the areas of the urban area which we have lost,” vowed High Commissioner Louis Le Franc.
New Caledonia sends representatives to the French legislature and votes in the French presidential elections. In 1998, the French government struck a deal to appease the indigenous Kanaks, restricting the franchise in local elections and referendums to people already living in New Caledonia before that year.
Over time, the number of people prevented from voting by this deal has increased to around one-fifth of the electorate. These are primarily people of European descent and their children, as well as non-Kanak Polynesians.
Nevertheless, the restricted electorate voted against independence from France in 2018, 2020, and 2021. The French government granted voting rights to more non-Kanaks this year, causing hardliners angry at the Kanak vote being “diluted” to riot.
There are no restrictions on citizens of foreign heritage from voting in Metropolitan (European) France.
France has sent troops and declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia because of riots – Reuters
Because of the law, which expands the voting rights of the French in France's overseas territories, large-scale protests have begun on the island. Opponents of the initiative set… pic.twitter.com/IfPs8D9Xnt
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 16, 2024
