31 Jul 2007

New Caledonia's anti-independence camp rearranges power distribution

1:10 pm on 31 July 2007

New Caledonia's two main anti-independence parties have signed a deal to share key positions following last week's resignation of the government.

The Rassemblement-UMP and the Future Together Party rearranged key positions to reflect the Rassemblement-UMP's success in the French assembly elections in June.

As a result the Rassemblement-UMP's leader, Pierre Frogier, has this morning been elected president of the Congress.

The president's job is being earmarked for the Future Together's leader, Harold Martin, who is set to succeed Marie-Noelle Themereau of the same party next week.

The document affirms the two sides' commitment to keeping New Caledonia French and makes no mention of contentious provisions of the 1998 Noumea Accord on greater autonomy, such as local employment and transfer of power from Paris to New Caledonia.