Independence referendum in New Caledonia 2020

Emblem of New Caledonia

In the independence referendum in New Caledonia in 2020 , the residents voted on October 4, 2020 in New Caledonia on the independence of France from. It was the fourth referendum on independence after 1958, 1987 and 2018 . With a turnout of almost 86%, 53.3% of those who voted voted to remain with France.

prehistory

In the elections for the Congress of New Caledonia ( Congrès de la Nouvelle-Calédonie ), the regional parliament , on May 12, 2019, the advocates of independence won 26 of the 54 seats (48.1%). With the mediation of Prime Minister Édouard Philippe , supporters and opponents of the independence movement agreed in October 2019 to hold a new referendum. The date for the vote was initially scheduled for September 6, 2020, but the voting date was postponed to October 4, 2020 in order to have better conditions for the vote against the background of the rampant COVID-19 pandemic . The voting question was the same as in the 2018 referendum:

«Voulez-vous que la Nouvelle-Calédonie accède à la pleine souveraineté et devienne indépendante? »

"Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?"

- Question of the referendum of October 4, 2020

Basis for voting

Residents on the general electoral roll were eligible to participate in the referendum. They also had to meet one of the following requirements:

1. Was on the 1998 electoral roll to vote on the Nouméa Agreement.
2. Should have been on the 1998 electoral roll to vote on the Nouméa Agreement, but it was not on it.
3. Should have been on the electoral roll for 1998 to vote on the Nouméa Agreement, but was unable to attend due to family, health or work responsibilities.
4. Legal residence permit or birth in New Caledonia and material interest in the area.
5. At least one parent was born in New Caledonia and has a material interest in the area.
6. Has lived in New Caledonia for at least 20 consecutive years until December 31, 2014.
7. Was born after December 31, 1988 and won the right to vote before the referendum as long as one parent was on the electoral roll for the 1998 Nouméa Agreement.

For this reason, around 36,000 people, i.e. more than 17 percent of the total number of those eligible to vote in other elections, were excluded from the 2018 referendum. This is intended to reduce the influence of the immigrant Zoreilles ( those born in mainland France ) in voting behavior towards the Kanaks , the indigenous people, and the Caldoches (those born in New Caledonia of European descent).

Results

Turnout by local authority

Election result by municipalities

180,799 people were eligible to vote.

Result by provinces province Yes votes Vote no Blank ballot papers Invalid Participation in % absolutely in % absolutely in % absolutely in % absolutely in % absolutely Province des Iles 84.27% 13,776 15.73% 02,571 0.29% 047 0.59% 097 74.72% 016,491 Province North 78.34% 28,537 21.66% 07,889 0.35% 129 0.67% 248 89.01% 036,803 Province Sud 29.14% 29,220 70.86% 71,043 0.67% 679 0.67% 682 86.58% 101,624 New Caledonia 46.74% 71,533 53.26% 81.503 0.55% 855 0.66% 1027 85.69% 154,918

Results by municipalities local community province Yes No Blank ballot papers Invalid Participation in % absolutely Belep Islands Province North 96.45% 03.55% 0.13% 0.13% 81.43% 00.763 Boulouparis Province Sud 30.81% 69.19% 0.34% 0.54% 92.59% 02,610 Bourail Province Sud 32.72% 67.28% 0.54% 0.86% 90.94% 03.713 Canala Province North 95.42% 04.58% 0.25% 0.53% 91.31% 03,194 Dumbéa Province Sud 26.29% 73.71% 0.67% 0.63% 87.08% 15,464 Farino Province Sud 11.46% 88.54% 0.18% 0.91% 94.80% 00.547 Hienghène Province North 96.26% 03.74% 0.04% 0.58% 91.45% 02,258 Houaïlou Province North 87.43% 12.57% 0.28% 0.72% 87.17% 03.215 Île des Pins Province Sud 69.85% 30.15% 0.53% 0.47% 85.26% 01,504 Kaala-Gomen Province North 75.90% 24.10% 0.20% 0.66% 89.51% 01,519 Cone Province North 66.64% 33.36% 0.53% 0.98% 89.82% 03,963 Kouaoua Province North 79.46% 20.54% 0.38% 0.48% 89.91% 01,051 Koumac Province North 38.48% 61.52% 0.41% 0.69% 90.07% 02,457 La Foa Province Sud 32.55% 67.45% 0.40% 0.94% 92.44% 02,765 Lifou Province des Iles 86.49% 13.51% 0.31% 0.61% 76.47% 08,255 Maré Province des Iles 79.29% 20.71% 0.20% 0.61% 71.90% 04,931 Moindou Province Sud 46.10% 53.90% 0.95% 1.23% 93.03% 00.734 Le Mont-Dore Province Sud 28.16% 71.84% 0.99% 1.03% 86.51% 15,483 Nouméa Province Sud 23.31% 76.69% 0.63% 0.58% 84.71% 44.094 Ouégoa Province North 71.81% 28.19% 0.26% 1.11% 87.03% 01,892 Ouvéa Province des Iles 86.18% 13.82% 0.33% 0.51% 74.81% 03,305 Païta Province Sud 28.77% 71.23% 0.75% 0.51% 87.57% 10,520 Poindimié Province North 82.52% 17.48% 0.37% 0.64% 91.00% 03,773 Ponérihouen Province North 89.18% 10.82% 0.42% 0.59% 88.77% 02,371 Pouébo Province North 95.12% 04.88% 0.05% 0.64% 84.62% 02,024 Pouembout Province North 48.17% 51.83% 0.60% 0.53% 89.41% 01,325 Poum Province North 85.14% 14.86% 0.24% 0.32% 88.54% 01,259 Poya north Province North 67.30% 32.70% 0.21% 0.56% 89.52% 01,948 Poya brew Province Sud 02.31% 97.69% 0.00% 0.00% 91.53% 00.173 Sarraméa Province Sud 79.03% 20.97% 0.42% 0.63% 93.53% 00.477 Thio Province Sud 85.85% 14.15% 0.16% 0.78% 88.15% 01.919 Touho Province North 85.41% 14.59% 0.36% 0.54% 86.96% 01,681 Voh Province North 71.58% 28.42% 1.00% 0.95% 89.60% 02.110 Yate Province Sud 90.96% 09.04% 0.12% 0.25% 92.10% 01,621

Assessment and further perspectives

On the basis of the Nouméa Agreement of 1998, the residents of New Caledonia are entitled to up to three referendums on independence. After 2018 and 2020, a possible third is planned for 2022.

Web links

• Official website of New Caledonia (French)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Covid-19 delays New Caledonia independence referendum. In: RNZ. May 31, 2020, accessed on July 9, 2020 . 
2. ↑ Provinciales 2019 - Résultats définitifs. Le Services de l'État en Nouvelle-Calédonie, May 13, 2019, accessed on October 4, 2020 (French). 
3. ↑ Nouvelle-Calédonie: un deuxième référendum le 30 août ou le 6 septembre 2020. Le Figaro, October 11, 2019, accessed on October 4, 2020 (French). 
4. ^ ^{A b} Convocation des électeurs et organization de la consultation sur l'accession à la pleine souveraineté de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. French government website (gouvernement.fr), June 24, 2020, accessed October 4, 2020 (French). 
5. ↑ La liste électorale spéciale consultation. elections-nc.fr, accessed October 4, 2020 (French). 
6. ↑ ^{a b} Reférendum en Nouvelle-Calédonie: pourquoi les "Zoreille" n'ont pas le droit de voter ( French ) Slate. November 3, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
7. ↑ Le corps électoral: la liste spéciale pour le référendum (LESC) ( French ) Government of New Caledonia. August 27, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
8. ^ The New Caledonian Referendum on Independence (Part 2): The Vote .
9. ↑ ^{a b c} RÉSULTATS DÉFINITIFS - Référendum du 4 octobre 2020 - Nouvelle-Calédonie - 304 bureaux dépouillés sur 304. High Commissioner of France in New Caledonia, accessed on October 5, 2020 (French).