26 Sep 2011

New Caledonia elects two French senators

5:13 am on 26 September 2011

New Caledonia has elected Pierre Frogier and Hilarion Vendegou as the territory's two new members of the French senate.

The electoral college, made up of 517 members, chose the two candidates backed by France's ruling UMP in a second round of voting in Noumea yesterday afternoon.

This year, New Caledonia elected for the first time two senators as the 341-member Senate is being enlarged by five members.

They replace Simon Loueckhote who held the position for 19 years but who pulled out of the race after the UMP withdrew its support last June.

Mr Frogier, who has been a member of the French National Assembly, has over the years held all key positions in New Caledonia politics .

Mr Vendegou is the mayor of the Isle of Pines.