BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Macron's policy towards New Caledonia is not working; a new path is needed, an article by Jimmy Naouna, advisor to the Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation (FLNKS), in the prestigious British publication Guardian said, Trend reports.
According to him, the unrest in New Caledonia is a direct result of Emmanuel Macron's biased and persistent political maneuvers to derail New Caledonia's self-determination process.
Naouna noted that the electoral reform bill passed in the French National Assembly in Paris two weeks ago provoked riots in Nouméa (the capital of New Caledonia).
“Since the introduction of the electoral reform bill in the French Senate in April this year, peaceful rallies, demonstrations, marches, and sit-ins have taken place in the city center of Nouméa and in the whole of New Caledonia, involving more than 10,000 people. But the French government still put forward a legislative initiative despite clear signs that the law would cause unrest and violent reactions at the local level,” the article reads.
The article notes that Macron's behavior in the situation in New Caledonia has been controversial among political groups in France.
Naouna emphasized that Macron's visit to New Caledonia last week was also a propaganda move for political gain.
“Even within his party, Macron lost support for getting the electoral reform bill through the Versailles Congress (a joint session of parliament),” Naouna wrote.
The article also mentions that, after returning to Paris, Macron considered putting electoral reforms to a national referendum as part of the French constitution. After the visit, FLNKS issued a statement reiterating the demand to suspend or cancel the electoral reform process. Additionally, it demanded that a high-level, independent mission be sent to New Caledonia to reduce tensions and create a more favorable environment.
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