Overseas Minister Sébastien Lecornu says he is in favor of a "
new status
" for New Caledonia in the event of a no to the third referendum on independence which should be held by September 2022, in a column published in the JDD .
Read also: Towards a New Caledonia led by the separatists
"
The status quo is not possible, neither politically, nor legally, nor even economically
", assures the minister in search of a "
new consensual solution for New Caledonia
" in an "
absolute respect for the process of self-determination
".
He congratulates himself on having been able to "
re-establish a dialogue that had been broken off for too long between the two camps
" since October.
"
If, three times, New Caledonia confirms its wish to remain French, it would then be appropriate to give it a new status in the Republic
", said the Minister.
For this, "
those who call to vote no should also reach out to almost half of the voters who will have voted yes: the Republic is a promise of unification
".
“
Conversely, dry independence, without preparation, appears insurmountable.
Its human, social and economic consequences would undoubtedly be disastrous,
”warns the minister in an ultra-sensitive political context, while the two branches of the independence coalition of the FLNKS are in conflict to appoint the president of the collegiate government.
The nickel industry in question
The separatists are in the majority in the government for the first time since the start of the Noumea Accord (1998) and New Caledonia is facing an economic and budgetary crisis, partly due to the woes of the nickel industry.
"
In January, the State launched a major consultation of civil society
" to respond to "the
deep aspirations of Caledonians
", recalls Sébastien Lecornu for whom "
the clock continues to tick and the coming days will be decisive
" .
"
We will have a president and a vice-president in the coming days
," assured Roch Wamytan, independentist president of the Congress, the deliberative assembly, on New Caledonia the 1st.
"
It has been forty years since we have been in government,
" said the leader of the FLNKS-UC (Union Calédonienne) on Sunday, acknowledging "
lack of preparation
".
“
We come to an important moment when we will ensure the destiny of this country by being in the majority in the government of New Caledonia, we can still afford to take a few days.
"
Read also: The nickel war destabilizes New Caledonia
The first two referendums, on November 4, 2018 and October 4, 2020, were won by supporters of France, but their score has fallen in two years from 56.7% to 53.3%.
The explosive dossier of the takeover of the metallurgical plant of the Brazilian group Vale is at the origin of the fall of the government on February 2, caused by the resignation en bloc of the five
independentist
"
ministers
".
The FLNKS and the Kanak chiefdoms oppose the takeover by a consortium including the Swiss commodities trader, Trafigura.
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