French President Emmanuel Macron has hailed a new agreement as a historic “new chapter” for New Caledonia, signaling a peaceful resolution after years of unrest in the Pacific territory. Following intense negotiations near Paris on Saturday, leaders from New Caledonia one of Australia’s closest neighbors announced a proposal aimed at settling the ongoing debate over independence from France.
The proposed deal envisions creating a “state of New Caledonia” within France, along with the establishment of a New Caledonian nationality. Macron described the agreement as a “bet on trust,” emphasizing its potential to foster a “peaceful relationship with France.” However, the draft stops short of granting full independence and involves significant compromises from both sides.
Experts caution that despite Macron’s optimistic tone, the path ahead remains uncertain. The proposal is unprecedented and will require extensive explanation to the New Caledonian public, who are set to vote on it in a referendum scheduled for February.
How did negotiations reach this point? For the past 10 days, pro- and anti-independence groups, alongside French officials, engaged in intense talks to determine New Caledonia’s future relationship with France. The negotiations were driven by longstanding disagreements, especially after three referendums 0ne boycotted by pro-independence groups failed to produce a clear path forward. A majority of voters rejected independence in those votes.
Renewed talks in February marked a turning point, ending a period of tension and violence that erupted last year. While the agreement represents a significant step, many analysts say it still faces a long journey before it can be implemented, and its details will need to be carefully explained to gain broad support in New Caledonia.
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