14 Sep 2017

New Caledonia's presidential election woes continue

4:00 pm on 14 September 2017

New Caledonia's main anti-independence party says the democratic process has been hijacked by the political interests of another loyalist faction.

The President of New Caledonia's collegial government, Philippe Germain.

The President of New Caledonia's collegial government, Philippe Germain. Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins

The Caledonia Together party says it denounces the stance of the Caledonian Republicans who for a second time in two weeks refused to elect the only candidate Philippe Germain as president.

He received only five of the six votes of the anti-independence politicians needed to be elected.

The pro-independence side, which has the remaining five seats in the 11-member government, has abstained.

The New Caledonia congress.

The New Caledonia congress. Photo: AFP

In the absence of a president, there is no properly constituted government and the previous government remains as a caretaker administration.

The Caledonia Together Party has ruled out any bargaining or negotiations with what it calls a perfidious group to have Mr Germain re-elected.

There is no end in sight to the impasse, which observers say could continue until next year unless Paris decides to call an early general election.

A similar deadlock two years ago left New Caledonia without a government for three months until a pro-independence politician decided to vote for Mr Germain.

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