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France’s initiative to change voter lists in New Caledonia faces criticism

12 May 2026 14:19 (UTC +04:00)

On May 8, the Asia Pacific Report website published an article dedicated to the provincial elections to be held in Kanaky (New Caledonia) on June 28 and France’s colonial policy, the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) told APA.

The article refers to a post shared on the organization’s social media account and highlights the issues raised by the organization regarding France’s repressive colonial policy against the Kanak people and the restriction of the rights of indigenous peoples.

The article notes that the decision by the Prime Minister of France to officially announce the provincial elections in Kanaky (New Caledonia) is regarded as an attempt by official Paris to maintain neocolonial control over the territory and weaken the political will of the Kanak people. This is because the elections in question will determine not only the composition of the provinces, but also the formation of the Congress, government, and future political governance model of New Caledonia. In this regard, the process is of decisive importance in terms of the Kanak people’s right to self-determination and the future political status of the territory.

It was noted that this year, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of the United Nations (CERD) adopted a statement regarding Kanaky, which remains under French colonial rule. In the statement, the Committee warned France over the situation resulting from its colonial policy in Kanaky and expressed serious concern, stressing that political and constitutional reforms related to Kanaky should be carried out only with the participation of the indigenous Kanak people in a free and transparent manner.

Ahead of the elections, loyalists, described as the “fifth column” of the French government on the island, proposed granting voting rights in New Caledonia to persons born there and their spouses. This initiative could result in the inclusion of approximately 10,000 new voters in the electorate, raising serious concerns as it may affect the political representation of the Kanak people and the existing electoral balance.

Note that following the last provincial elections held in 2019, the next elections planned for 2024 were postponed three times. The Constitutional Council of France stated that the elections must be held no later than June 28, 2026. Although Paris presents this process as a technical procedure, the elections are in fact of strategic importance in terms of New Caledonia’s political future and the Kanak people’s right to self-determination.

Kanaky New Caledonia France Kanak people colonial policy self-determination Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination United Nations elections Baku Initiative Group indigenous rights neocolonialism