In brief
Support for New Caledonia’s independence from France increases in referendum, but not enough to win
53.3% of voters chose to maintain ties with France · The pro-independence bloc can force the call for a third ballot in 2022
53.3% of voters chose today to keep New Caledonia within France, while 46.7% supported full sovereignty.
In 2018, the “no” option has received 56.7% of the ballots. In other words, in two years, the difference between opponents and supporters of independence has decreased from more than 13 percentage points to less than 7.
If requested by a third of the Congress of New Caledonia, a third referendum will take place in 2022, as provided for in the Nouméa Accords. The pro-independence camp believes that from then on it can finally reverse the numbers and achieve victory.