New Caledonia has a new President! Louis Mapou of the Party of Kanak Liberation (Palika) was elected today as President of the Government of New Caledonia. It will be the first time in nearly 40 years that a pro-independence Kanak heads New Caledonia's government. It comes at a crucial time: the French Pacific dependency will hold another referendum on self-determination on 12 December, and President Mapou will join the next leaders’ summit of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Mapou is a leading Kanak activist in New Caledonia’s Southern Province, a former director of the ADRAF land reform agency and a member of the Union Nationale pour l’Indépendence (UNI) parliamentary group in the national Congress.
He was elected as head of the 11-member multi-party government by 6-4 votes, defeating outgoing President Thierry Santa (with one abstention). While the independence movement has a 6-5 majority in the govt, a 3-3 deadlock between Mapou and UC candidate Samuel Hnepeune stalled this decision for months. Now UC has backed Mapou, and Hnepeune has announced his resignation, opening the way for the next member of the UC-FLNKS list to take his seat.
Louis Mapou élu (in French)
https://www.lnc.nc/article-direct/nouvelle-caledonie/politique/louis-mapou-elu-president-du-gouvernement
New Caledonia to go to referendum on 12 December
https://insidestory.org.au/third-time-lucky-in-new-caledonia/
Photo: President of the Government of New Caledonia Louis Mapou (photo LNC).
0 comments:
Post a Comment