New Caledonia

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including New Caledonia's pro-French party, Rassemblement, electing its first Kanak president.

Analysis - The signing of a controversial cooperation agreement between New Caledonia's Congress and the National Assembly of Azerbaijan has fuelled more tensions.

The French-proposed "pact" to salvage New Caledonia's beleaguered nickel industry is still in limbo as the local Congress has decided to re-examine the whole document through a "special committee".

New Caledonia's capital was on Saturday flooded by two simultaneous waves of French and Kanaky flags as part of two demonstrations in downtown Nouméa.

Security forces reinforcements have been sent from France ahead of two antagonist marches scheduled to take place this Saturday in the capital Nouméa.

The French Senate endorsed a move from the French government to allow French citizens to vote at local elections provided they have been residing for at least an uninterrupted ten years.

Analysis - The French Senate on Tuesday endorsed a Constitutional review project bearing significant modifications to the local electoral rules for New Caledonia, but with amendments.

Analysis - A combination of inter-twined economic, political and socially pressing issues are taking their toll in New Caledonia.

Analysis - An "organic law" to postpone New Caledonia's provincial elections has on Monday passed the final hurdle and was endorsed by the French National Assembly.

The concept of a nickel-exporting-countries organisation, which they call "OPEN" (Organisation des Pays Exportateurs de Nickel) comes from the FLNKS-Union Calédonienne Congress caucus.