French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday declared that ‘a period of transition’ would begin for New Caledonia after voters overwhelmingly rejected independence in a referendum which was held over the weekend.
Macron maintained that ‘France is more beautiful’ with the Pacific islands included.
Speaking in a recorded message on Sunday night, Macron said; ‘A period of transition is beginning. Free from the binary choice of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, we must now build a common project, while recognising and respecting the dignity of everyone,’
He said that the country could be ‘proud’ of the process designed to settle the status of the islands under which residents were asked in three separate referendums if they wished to break away from France.
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‘Tonight France is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to stay part of it,’ Macron added.
With all ballots counted, 96.49 percent were against independence, while only 3.51 percent were in favour, with turn-out a mere 43.90 percent, results from the islands’ high commission showed.
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that pro-independence campaigners boycotted the vote, saying they wanted it postponed to September because ‘a fair campaign’ was impossible with high coronavirus infection numbers.
Observers say the result could exacerbate ethnic tensions, with the poorer indigenous Kanak community generally favouring independence over the wealthier white community.
Macron made no direct mention of the boycott, but he admitted that voters were ‘profoundly divided’ and he expressed condolences to “all those who have lost a loved one”.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
