French loyalists sweep New Caledonia vote but fight over political future is far from over

Pro-France parties have scored a strong win in New Caledonia's first provincial election since the deadly riots of 2024.

The loyalists have taken control of the Southern Province but fallen short of an outright majority in New Caledonia's Congress.

With most votes counted, the joint ticket of Les Loyalistes and Le Rassemblement won about half of all votes in the Southern Province, the territory's largest and most populated province.

Sunday's election was closely watched across the Pacific as New Caledonia tries to rebuild after the violence that shook country two years ago.

Official figures from the French High Commission show voter turnout reached 63.7 per cent, down from 66.5 per cent at the last provincial election in 2019.

Outgoing Southern Province President Sonia Backes welcomed the result, saying voters had sent a clear message.

Supporters of the pro-independence movement gather on election day as the movement remains a key player in New Caledonia's political future.

"The people of New Caledonia, particularly the inhabitants of the Southern Province, have made the choice of a useful vote," Backes said on TV5 Monde Info.

She described the outcome as "an unambiguous message" in support of New Caledonia remaining part of the French Republic.

Public broadcaster NC Première projects the loyalist alliance will win 28 of the Southern Province's 40 seats.

French police and gendarmes patrol Nouméa during New Caledonia's first provincial election since the deadly 2024 unrest. Photo/RNZ Pacific/Walter Zweifel

The pro-independence Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) is expected to secure seven seats while the centrist Oceanian Awakening (Éveil Océanien) party is projected to win five.

Despite the decisive result in the south, the loyalist bloc is not expected to gain full control of New Caledonia's 54-seat Congress.

Current projections suggest the alliance will hold 24 seats, making it the largest political group but still four seats short of the 28 needed for an outright majority.

That means negotiations and political deal-making will remain central to forming the territory's next government.

The election was held under tight security with about 2400 police officers and gendarmes deployed across polling stations.

Watch veteran journalist Nic Maclellan's full interview with William Terite on Pacific Mornings below.

It was the first major vote since riots broke out in May 2024 over plans to expand New Caledonia's restricted electoral roll.

The unrest left 14 people dead and caused more than €2 billion (NZ$4.03 billion) in damage to businesses and infrastructure.

Attention will now turn to fresh political talks expected in July when French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is due to bring political leaders together in an effort to reach an agreement on New Caledonia's future before the end of the year.