Government of New Caledonia (original) (raw)

The contents of this page have yet fully to incorporate the effects of the Noumea Accord of 1998

Country name:
_conventional long form:_Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
_conventional short form:_New Caledonia
_local long form:_Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
_local short form:_Nouvelle-Caledonie

**Data code:**NC

**Dependency status:**An overseas collectivity of France since 1998: a referendum on independence is to be held by 2018.

**Government type:**NA

**Capital:**Noumea

**Administrative divisions:**none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

**National holiday:**National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

**Constitution:**28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

**Legal system:**the 1988 Matignon Accords and 1998 Noumea Accord grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

**Suffrage:**18 years of age; universal, but restricted by length of residence.

Executive branch:
_chief of state:_President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner Thierry LATASTE (since 19 July 1999)
_head of government:_President of the Government Jean LEQUES (since 28 May 1999)
_cabinet:_Consultative Committee
_elections:_French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress

**Legislative branch:**unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
_elections:_last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
_election results:_percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie 3, LKS 1
_note:_New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2

**Judicial branch:**Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court

**Political parties and leaders:**Alliance pour la Caledonie [Didier LEROUX]; Developper Ensemble pour Construire l'Avenir or DEPCA [Robert FROUIN]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Raphael MAPOU]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Groupe de l'Alliance Multiraciale or GAM [Dany DALMAYRAE]; Independance et Progres [Alphonse PUJAPUJANE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [Rock WAMYTAN] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, UPM); La Caledonie Autrement [Denis MILLIARD]; Loyalty Islands Development Front or FDIL [Cono HAMU]; National Front or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Charles WASHETINE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Renouveau [Thierry VALET]; Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]; Union Caledonienne or UC [Bernard LEPEU]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Andre GOPEA]

**International organization participation:**ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**none (overseas territory of France)

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**none (overseas territory of France)

**Flag description:**the flag of France is used

See also : New Caledonia