30 Dec 2002

Veteran New Caledonian politician to retire

11:16 am on 30 December 2002

New Caledonia's prominent anti-independence politician, Jaques Lafleur, has announced his retirement from politics after a career spanning 25 years.

70 year old Mr Lafleur, founder of the anti-independence RPCR Party is a member of the French National Assembly and President of New Caledonia's Southern Province.

At the French general election in June this year, Mr Lafleur retained his seat as New Caledonia's representative in the Assembly, but for the first time was not elected with an absolute majority.