A group of ten French magistrates is due in New Caledonia this week to address claims of highly inaccurate rolls for the provincial elections in May.
The French government says it is committed to a transparent process as rival camps call for thousands of voters to be struck off.
Walter Zweifel reports.
"The president of New Caledonia's Congress, Roch Wamytan of the pro-independence FLNKS movement, has alleged that there has been cheating and that 6,700 names need to removed. He says they fail the constitutional criterium of being long-term residents, which would also entitle them to take part in a possible independence referendum. A leading anti-independence politician, Pierre Frogier, says his side has identified 4,000 Kanaks who should equally be struck off. He has written to the French prime minister, saying a consensus needs to be reached or else the election may need to be put off."
