96.49% of voters opposed the independence of the territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the results of the referendum in New Caledonia. The majority of voters opposed the separation of the islands from France.
France 24 reports this.
French President Emmanuel Macron in a video message recorded in Elysee Palace, congratulated citizens on the results of the referendum held today in New Caledonia, whose residents for the third time spoke out against secession from the metropolis.
“The Caledonians made a choice in favor of France, in favor of unity and trust. I am very proud of this. Now we should continue to build this common destiny, which they dreamed of and initiated by the older generations,” Macron said.
He stressed that the Caledonians voluntarily decided to remain French citizens.
This referendum was the third after two previous ones: November 4, 2018 and October 4, 2020. All three times, the majority of Caledonians spoke out against secession from France.
“So, New Caledonia will remain French,” the head of state announced.
# BREAKING New Caledonia votes overwhelmingly to remain French: partial results pic.twitter.com/hS0iGsHHtb
– AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 12, 2021
After counting 100% of the ballots against the independence of the territory, 96.49% of the voters spoke out. 3.51% voted in favor. The voter turnout was 43.90%.
New Caledonia is an archipelago of dozens of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, 15 thousand kilometers from Paris with a special status. 1998, after clashes between the authorities and separatists from the Kanak people (the local population of the island), an agreement was concluded that provided for a referendum on the independence of New Caledonia from France, which took place on November 4, 2018. The majority (56.4%) did not support independence. However, local authorities have the right to hold two more similar referendums.
Recall that Zelensky and Macron agreed to meet in Brussels next week.
