Patrick
Decloitre
RNZ Pacific French Pacific desk
correspondent
Pro-France Virginie Ruffenach has been
elected as the new New Caledonia Congress president under a
“governance” coalition struck on Thursday between the
pro-France bloc and “kingmakers” Eveil Océanien
party.
During a vote that followed New Caledonia’s
provincial elections held on 28 June, Ruffenach secured 28
of the 54 votes in the French Pacific territory’s
territorial assembly.
Her opponent, Dominique Fochi,
supported by the pro-independence bloc “Kanaky for All”,
received 26 votes.
The pro-France bloc, consisting of
Rassemblement, Les Loyalistes and Génération NC, for a
total of 24 seats in the House, announced a governance deal
had been struck with Eveil Océanien – which has four seats
– to form a majority.
Ruffenach takes over from Veylma
Falaeo (from Eveil Océanien), who had held the presidency
since 2024 and had become the first woman to hold this
position after being elected in August 2024.
In her
first speech following her election, the Ruffenach stressed
she intended to make New Caledonia’s Congress a place for
“exchange” and “dignified debates”.
“[New Caledonians]
are expecting something else than struggles … They expect
mutual respect and efficiency”, she said.
“They expect
us to be worthy of the history we are writing together. We
have inherited an exceptional land as well as a complex
history. We cannot change the past, but we have the
responsibility to build the future”.
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“I wish we can
find the courage to overcome what is opposing us to preserve
what brings us together. And this is our attachment to New
Caledonia, our will to serve its inhabitants and our duty to
serve future generations”.
In a special address to the
pro-independence camp, she said they can be assured of “all
my consideration”.
“I have the utmost respect for
those who hold different beliefs than mine and I am mindful
that everyone should express themselves freely. Our beliefs
differ deeply on New Caledonia’s political future, this is a
reality. But this reality doesn’t prevent us from respecting
each other, listen to each other and work together when the
general interest demands it”.
She said some of her
main priorities would be to “rebuild our economic tools,
mend the social fabric, work to reduce inequalities and
restore confidence”.
New Caledonia’s Congress,
following the French territory’s provincial elections, is
now made up of 5 groups. They include the Kanaky NC (19
seats, pro-independence), Les Loyalistes (18, pro-France),
Rassemblement (6 seats, pro-France), Union Nationale pour
l’Indépendance (UNI, 7 seats, pro-independence) and Eveil
Océanien (4 seats).
Votes were continuing on Friday
in New Caledonia’s Congress inaugural session to elect the
institution’s bureau, including
vice-presidents.
Debates are expected to continue on
Saturday for the same administrative reasons and to elect
the Congress’s various committees.
Under the
“governance” agreement struck this week between the
pro-France camp and Eveil Océanien, it is planned that
Eveil Océanien leader Milakulo Tukumuli will be appointed
as New Caledonia’s next “collegial” government
President.
The coalition agreement, however, does not
include long-term political projects such as New Caledonia’s
institutional future, which is to be addressed during talks
between New Caledonia’s political parties and the French
government, at a date yet to be
determined.
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