Pro-independence and pro-France parties in New Caledonia reached a “historic” agreement on Saturday regarding the French Pacific territory’s future political status. The deal, struck after 10 days of intense talks near Paris, proposes New Caledonia become a “State” within the French Republic and addresses key issues including the electoral roll and economic future.
Contents
The 13-page document, officially titled “Agreement Project of the Future of New Caledonia,” aims to provide a pathway forward after years of political tension and three referendums where voters chose to remain part of France.
Background to the Agreement
Tensions in New Caledonia escalated following the third independence referendum in 2021, which pro-independence parties largely boycotted. This was compounded by failed talks in early 2025 and deadly riots that erupted in May 2024, triggered partly by proposed changes to voting eligibility rules that concerned the indigenous Kanak community.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened the recent negotiations near Paris, handing oversight to Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls. The talks were seen as a “summit of last chance” to find common ground between parties with fundamentally opposed views on full sovereignty versus remaining French.
French Minister Manuel Valls displays pages signed by New Caledonia party representatives during historic agreement talks near Paris.
After ten days of confidential discussions in Bougival, outside Paris, Minister Valls announced Saturday morning that all parties had signed and committed to present and defend the agreement text. He described it as a “major commitment” reflecting “courage and responsibility” from New Caledonia’s political partners.
Key Provisions of the Deal
The agreement lays out a framework for New Caledonia’s political evolution, seeking a “new political organisation, a more widely shared sovereignty and an economic and social refoundation” for a “reinvented common destiny.”
A “State” within France
One of the most significant changes proposed is the establishment of a “State of New Caledonia” operating under a “sui generis” (unique) status within the French realm. This framework would include a dual citizenship (France and New Caledonia).
Implementation would require endorsement by New Caledonia’s Congress through a three-fifths majority vote, followed by approval from the French Parliament and integration into the French Constitution. The agreement also proposes increasing the number of MPs in the local Congress to 56.
Transfer of Powers
The deal envisages a gradual transfer of certain powers from France to New Caledonia. This includes empowering New Caledonia to conduct its own international relations, provided these activities respect France’s international commitments and vital interests.
However, key domains like defence, currency, and justice would remain under French authority. While defence remains a French power, New Caledonia is to be “strongly” associated, consulted, and informed regarding French strategy and actions in the Pacific. On police and public order, New Caledonia could establish its own provincial and traditional forces alongside French national agencies.
Electoral Roll Changes
A critical and sensitive issue addressed is the eligibility criteria for voting in local New Caledonian elections, particularly for the Provincial Assemblies. Disputes over proposed changes were a major factor in the May 2024 riots.
The agreement proposes partially opening the electoral roll. Previously frozen in 2007 and restricted primarily to those born before the 1998 Nouméa Accord, the new conditions would include individuals born after 1998. Access to New Caledonian “citizenship” (and thus the right to vote in local polls) would also be extended to long-term residents (10 uninterrupted years) and those married to or in a civil partnership with a qualified citizen for at least five years.
Provincial Elections Postponed
The provincial elections, originally scheduled for late 2025, will be postponed for a third time. They are now slated to take place in May-June 2026, allowing time for the new agreement’s framework to be put in place and potentially voted upon.
Economic Refoundation
A significant portion of the agreement focuses on reforming New Caledonia’s economy. This includes a priority on tackling public debt sustainability, an issue highlighted after France provided over one billion Euros in loans following the 2024 riots.
The plan also aims to create economic opportunities, particularly for young people, who have expressed feeling excluded from the current system.
Strategic Nickel Industry
The vital, yet struggling, nickel industry is a major economic focus. The agreement proposes a nickel “strategic plan” to revitalise the sector. This includes efforts to restart processing plants, facilitate the export of raw nickel, and ensure access to mining sites disrupted by unrest.
The plan acknowledges challenges like high energy costs reducing competitiveness against global producers like Indonesia. France also intends to lobby the European Union to recognise New Caledonian nickel as a strategic resource.
Group photo of negotiators from New Caledonia's pro-independence and pro-France parties at the end of the Bougival summit near Paris.
Reactions to the Deal
Initial reactions from New Caledonia and mainland France were largely positive, acknowledging the compromise required. French Prime Minister François Bayrou hailed the “historic” agreement, praising the work of Minister Valls and President Macron.
Pro-France leaders like Nicolas Metzdorf viewed the deal as allowing New Caledonia to finally “project ourselves in the future” and focus on economic and social reconstruction without the recurring uncertainty of independence referendums. They noted concessions were made, such as accepting the notion of a “New Caledonian nationality” and the “sui generis State” status, while stressing that the territory remains part of France and residents retain French nationality. Sonia Backès, President of the Southern Province, affirmed that the deal “does not take away anything from us, neither of us belonging to the French Republic nor our French nationality.”
Pro-France leaders Sonia Backès, Nicolas Metzdorf, Gil Brial, and pro-independence negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou pictured together after reaching a deal on New Caledonia's future.
From the pro-independence side, negotiator Victor Tutugoro highlighted that parties “placed our bets on intelligence, beyond our respective beliefs.” He described it as a “balanced compromise” that allows building New Caledonia together and fostering the “common destiny” long discussed.
President Macron met with the delegations to congratulate them, describing the outcome as “A State of New Caledonia within the (French) Republic” and a win for a “bet on trust.” Emmanuel Tjibaou, chief negotiator for the pro-independence FLNKS and son of the late leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, noted the agreement is a step towards new perspectives for the Kanak people.
In a moment symbolic of the evolving relationship, Tjibaou reportedly fist-pumped with pro-France leader Metzdorf, a departure from the historic handshake between his father and Jacques Lafleur in 1988 that sealed a previous accord.
What’s Next
The agreement text must first be presented to the respective political bases in New Caledonia. The territory’s population is then expected to vote on whether to approve the deal in February 2026.
If approved, the text would form the basis of a “special organic law” to be voted on by the New Caledonia Congress. This law would subsequently need to be endorsed by the French Parliament and enshrined in a dedicated article of the French Constitution, formalizing New Caledonia’s new status.
Close-up view of signatures on the final page of the agreement document outlining New Caledonia's future political status within France.
Conclusion
The agreement reached in Bougival represents a significant step forward for New Caledonia, offering a potential path towards stability after years of political deadlock and recent unrest. By proposing a unique “State” status within France and addressing contentious issues like the electoral roll and economic challenges, the deal seeks to build a shared future based on compromise. The territory’s population will have the final say in a February 2026 vote, determining whether this framework will guide New Caledonia’s next chapter.
