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France's Macron puts voting reform bid that sparked deadly unrest in New Caledonia territory on hold

French Pres. Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday suspended controversial voting reforms in Pacific island New Caledonia, prompted by one month of violent protests and civil unrest in the French colony.

Politico

French Pres. Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday suspended controversial voting reforms in Pacific island New Caledonia, prompted by one month of violent protests and civil unrest in the French colony

The proposed changes would’ve given voting rights to non-indigenous residents of the island, leading members of the native Kanak people to fear becoming further marginalized in their own land. Violence erupted on May 13 and France declared a national emergency in the territory on May 15.

ABC News

The proposed changes would’ve given voting rights to non-indigenous residents of the island, leading members of the native Kanak people to feel that they would become further marginalized in their own land. Violence erupted on May 13, and France declared a national emergency in the territory on May 15.

Macron visited New Caledonia last month, promising not to pass the reforms through force, while noting that the situation would be reviewed in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, however, he announced that he would not “leave ambiguity”, suspending the voting reforms.

Guardian

Macron visited New Caledonia last month, where he promised not to pass the reform through force but said it would be reviewed in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, however, he announced that he would not "leave ambiguity" and suspended the plans.

The bill had passed through both chambers of the French parliament in April and was slated for final approval before June 30. Since Macron called for a snap election, dissolving the lower National Assembly on Sunday, he cannot recall deputies to hold the required joint session to enact the bill.

The bill had passed both chambers of the French parliament in April and was slated for final approval before June 30. But since Macron dissolved the lower National Assembly on Sunday, he can't recall deputies to hold the required joint session to enact the bill.

The Kanak Liberation Party said that the recent European elections, which saw Macron’s allies lose to conservative opponents, “saw off the constitutional bill,” while calling for a “rebuilding [of] peace and social ties” after chaos ravaged the capital of Nouméa and killed at least nine people.

The Kanak Liberation Party said the recent European elections, in which Macron’s allies lost to conservative opponents, "saw off the constitutional bill." It also called for a "rebuilding [of] peace and social ties" following the violence that killed nine people.

France has controlled New Caledonia since the 19th century, and many Kanaks have called for increased autonomy or independence. The group comprises just 41% of the archipelago, and many Kanaks believe that non-Kanak residents have played a role in subverting several independence referenda.

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French colonialism has subjugated the Kanak people of New Caledonia for far too long, creating a situation in which a native people have become a minority. The proposed voting reforms would have further disenfranchised Kanaks by diluting their votes and undermining their efforts for increased self-governance. Macron and his government have botched this situation, and the Kanak people were justified in their protest of France’s ongoing colonization.

Le Monde.fr

Le Monde.fr #

New Caledonia: 'No colonial society can last forever'

The predicament of the Kanak people has many parallels throughout the world, and it exposes a stunning level of hypocrisy on the left. The liberal mainstream is eager to express concern for the plight of an indigenous group of people that is becoming a minority in their homeland while having their votes diluted by non-indigenous immigrants. That is, unless the indigenous group is White Europeans. There are strong arguments for the Kanak right to self-determination, and those same arguments apply to European

There is a 5% chance that Emmanuel Macron will cease being President of France before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

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Macron no longer President before 2027?

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Macron Suspends Controversial Voting Reform in New Caledonia

New Caledonia

France

Politics

The situation around the Kanak people exposes the stunning hypocrisy of the left. Establishment liberals are eager to voice concern over the plight of an indigenous group becoming a demographic and political minority in their homeland by non-indigenous immigrants. That is, unless the indigenous group is White Europeans. The same sense of self-determination should be given to the European people as they face a similar predicament.

Macron Suspends Controversial Voting Reform in New Caledonia

Macron Suspends Controversial Voting Reform in New Caledonia

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Macron Suspends Controversial Voting Reform in New Caledonia

Macron Suspends Controversial Voting Reform in New Caledonia

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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