2026 New Caledonian legislative election
This article documents a current election. Information may change rapidly as the election progresses until official results have been published. Initial news reports may be unreliable, and the last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (June 2026) |
28 June 2026
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All 54 seats in the Congress 28 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 63.71% ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 28 June 2026 to elect members of the Congress of New Caledonia.[2] The elections had previously been scheduled to be held on 15 December 2024 but were postponed by a year after unrest and then postponed again following the Bougival Accord.[3]
Background
[edit]An independence referendum was held in New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific, on 12 December 2021. The vote was the third and final one to be held under the terms of the Nouméa Accord, following votes in 2018 and 2020. As a result of the referendum taking place amid a boycott from the independence parties, the results were extremely lopsided in favor of status quo: voters overwhelmingly rejected independence, with 96% voting against independence and 4% in favour (compared to a 57% and 53% against independence in 2018 and 2020).[4] French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the results of the referendum, adding that France "is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to stay part of it."[4]
While the Kanak independence movement continues to demand full self-determination, many French officials see extending voting rights as essential for democratic fairness in the territory.[5] The adoption of the voter list bill in May 2024 by the French parliament which would allow French citizens residing in New Caledonia for at least ten years to take part in local elections,[6] led to mass riots by pro-independence groups that turned violent, prompting French president Emmanuel Macron to declare a state of emergency and fly thousands of police and army reinforcements to the faraway territory.[3] In October 2024, then-French Prime Minister Michel Barnier scrapped the bill, citing the need to restore calm and telling the National Assembly that "avoiding further unrest" was a priority.[5]
On 16 January 2025, Alcide Ponga was sworn in as President of the Government of New Caledonia, forming a new government following the collapse of the pro-independence government led by Louis Mapou. His leadership has been described as bringing stability following the 2024 unrest and a continuation for New Caledonia to remain within the French Republic.[7]
On 12 July 2025, the Ministry of the Overseas, and both pro and anti-independence signed the Bougival Accord, delaying the elections until 2026.
Electoral system
[edit]Voters elect 76 members to the assemblies of the three provinces of New Caledonia (40 for South Province, 22 for North Province, and 14 for the Loyalty Islands Province). In turn, 54 also become members of the Congress of New Caledonia (32 from South Province, 15 from North Province, and 7 from Loyalty Islands Province).
The elections are held under party-list proportional representation using a 5% electoral threshold and the highest averages method to allocate seats. The elections used a restricted roll, which restricts voting depending on how long someone has lived in New Caledonia.[8] Only persons residing in New Caledonia since at least 8 November 1998 (and their children, once they reach the age of majority) are able to vote.
Results
[edit]Congress
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Loyalistes | 45,825 | 38.05 | 24 | +7 | ||
| UC-FLNKS | 14,364 | 11.93 | 10 | +1 | ||
| FLNKS | 12,842 | 10.66 | 6 | 0 | ||
| National Union for Independence | 12,720 | 10.56 | 6 | –3 | ||
| Oceanian Awakening | 8,399 | 6.97 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Us, united! | 4,554 | 3.78 | New | 0 | New | |
| Faire Pays | 4,428 | 3.68 | New | 0 | New | |
| Caledonia Together | 3,887 | 3.23 | 0 | –7 | ||
| Nation Autochtone | 3,855 | 3.20 | 3 | +2 | ||
| Palika Îles | 2,481 | 2.06 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Union to build through concensus | 2,404 | 2.00 | 0 | –1 | ||
| A hope for tomorrow | 1,520 | 1.26 | New | 0 | New | |
| For a French Caledonia | 1,158 | 0.96 | New | 0 | New | |
| Kanaky sovereignty New Caledonia | 1,003 | 0.83 | New | 0 | New | |
| France-Caledonia: A homeland | 727 | 0.60 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Baselaia | 137 | 0.11 | New | 0 | New | |
| To commit and work for the prosperity of our province and the sovereignty of our country | 125 | 0.10 | New | 0 | New | |
| Total | 120,429 | 100.00 | – | 54 | 0 | |
| Source: Nouvelle-Calédonie La 1ère[9] | ||||||
By bloc
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyalists Loyalists, CE, UED, RN, Us, united!, PCF | 57,671 | 47.89 | 24 | 0 | |
| Separatists UC-FLNKS, UNI, PT, SK, LKS, PALINKA, UCC, Baselaia, S'EŒPNPSNP | 49,931 | 41.46 | 26 | 0 | |
| Others (EO, Faire pays) | 12,827 | 10.65 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 120,429 | 100.00 | 54 | 0 | |
| Source: Nouvelle-Calédonie La 1ère[10] | |||||
Provincial Assemblies
[edit]North
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC-FLNKS | 10,418 | 39.93 | +3.97 | 10 | +1 | |
| National Union for Independence | 9,319 | 35.72 | –2.78 | 9 | –1 | |
| Let's act together for the North | 4,261 | 16.33 | +4.15 | 3 | 0 | |
| Northern alternative for a sovereign country | 1,239 | 4.75 | +1.41 | 0 | 0 | |
| Faire Pays | 853 | 3.27 | New | 0 | New | |
| Total | 26,090 | 100.00 | – | 22 | 0 | |
| Total votes | 26,504 | – | ||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 43,023 | 61.60 | ||||
| Source: Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (votes),[11] Nouvelle-Calédonie La 1ère (seats)[12] | ||||||
South
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Loyalistes and Le Rassemblement – Strong and United | 41,294 | 50.14 | +9.55 | 28 | +8 | |
| Kanaky for all (FLNKS) | 12,842 | 15.59 | –2.17 | 7 | +3 | |
| Another world is possible | 8,399 | 10.20 | +1.64 | 5 | +1 | |
| Us, united! | 4,554 | 5.53 | New | 0 | New | |
| A province for all, a united country, a shared future | 3,887 | 4.72 | –13.77 | 0 | –9 | |
| Faire Pays | 3,575 | 4.34 | New | 0 | New | |
| United for the country | 3,401 | 4.13 | N/A [a] | 0 | –3 | |
| A hope for tomorrow | 1,520 | 1.85 | New | 0 | New | |
| For a French Caledonia | 1,158 | 1.41 | New | 0 | New | |
| Kanaky sovereignty New Caledonia | 1,003 | 1.22 | New | 0 | New | |
| France-Caledonia: A homeland | 727 | 0.88 | New | 0 | New | |
| Total | 82,360 | 100.00 | – | 40 | 0 | |
| Total votes | 84,028 | – | ||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 127,421 | 65.95 | ||||
| Source: Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (votes),[13] Nouvelle-Calédonie La 1ère (seats)[14] | ||||||
Loyalty Islands
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC-FLNKS | 3,946 | 32.94 | –4.15 | 6 | 0 | |
| Nation Autochtone | 3,855 | 32.18 | +21.20 | 6 | +4 | |
| Palika Îles | 2,481 | 20.71 | –0.53 | 2 | –2 | |
| Union to build through concensus | 1,165 | 9.73 | –4.61 | 0 | –2 | |
| A new breath | 270 | 2.25 | –7.14 | 0 | 0 | |
| Baselaia | 137 | 1.14 | New | 0 | New | |
| To commit and work for the prosperity of our province and the sovereignty of our country | 125 | 1.04 | New | 0 | New | |
| Total | 11,979 | 100.00 | – | 14 | 0 | |
| Total votes | 12,134 | – | ||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 22,093 | 54.92 | ||||
| Source: Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (votes),[15] Nouvelle-Calédonie La 1ère (seats)[16] | ||||||
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "REPLAY. Élections provinciales 2026 en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le scrutin change le visage du Congrès. 24 des 54 sièges reviennent aux élus Loyalistes et Rassemblement". Nouvelle-Calédonie La 1ère. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ Guibert, Nathalie (7 May 2026). "Nouvelle-Calédonie : la convocation des élections provinciales, le 28 juin, marque l'échec du projet « Bougival»". LeMonde (in French). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- ^ a b "New Caledonia election postponed for a year by France's new prime minister". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2024-10-02. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ a b "'Tonight France is more beautiful': Macron hails New Caledonia's rejection of independence". France 24. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ a b "New Caledonian independence leaders wary as France drops voting reform". RFI. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ Rodriguez, Pierre-Emmanuel (2024-05-29). "The Electoral Reform in New Caledonia as a Blessing in Disguise". Verfassungsblog. doi:10.59704/9d3db0b25131edb1. ISSN 2366-7044.
- ^ Mazzoni, Julien (2025-01-09). "New Caledonia Congress elects pro-France president after political crisis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
- ^ "New Caledonia readies for election". RNZ. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "REPLAY. Élections provinciales 2026 en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le scrutin change le visage du Congrès. 24 des 54 sièges reviennent aux élus Loyalistes et Rassemblement". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "REPLAY. Élections provinciales 2026 en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le scrutin change le visage du Congrès. 24 des 54 sièges reviennent aux élus Loyalistes et Rassemblement". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "Provinciales : les résultats en direct par commune et par province". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "REPLAY. Élections provinciales 2026 en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le scrutin change le visage du Congrès. 24 des 54 sièges reviennent aux élus Loyalistes et Rassemblement". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "Provinciales : les résultats en direct par commune et par province". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "REPLAY. Élections provinciales 2026 en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le scrutin change le visage du Congrès. 24 des 54 sièges reviennent aux élus Loyalistes et Rassemblement". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "Provinciales : les résultats en direct par commune et par province". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "REPLAY. Élections provinciales 2026 en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le scrutin change le visage du Congrès. 24 des 54 sièges reviennent aux élus Loyalistes et Rassemblement". Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes. Retrieved 28 June 2026.