5 Jan 2009

New Caledonia's next general election on May the 10th

10:38 am on 5 January 2009

New Caledonia's next general election is to be held on May the 10th.

Voters will be asked to choose three provincial assemblies for a five-year term which in turn will determine the make-up of the 54-member Congress.

New Caledonia's daily newspaper says the date of May the 10th was chosen despite it being at the end of a long weekend as the electoral provisions dictate that polling be held within five years of the previous election of May 2004.

This year's election comes after continued fracturing of the dominant anti-independence camp, with the pro-independence movement vying to emerge as the single largest party in the new legislature.