Government and Politics

Government and Politics of New Caledonia

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of New Caledonia.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: NA
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
Legal System: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: see France
Executive Branch: chief of state: President of France Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner Louis LE FRANC (since 21 July 2021) head of government: President of the Government Louis MAPOU (since 8 July 2021) cabinet: Consultative Committee consists of members chosen from leading figures on the island to advise the High Commissioner; the Government of New Caledonia is a collegial body of 11 members elected by the Congress elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-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; Louis MAPOU, leader of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), was elected president of the government in July 2021, becoming the first indigenous Kanak to hold the position
Legislative Branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3 note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate; between 2004 and 2010 New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to be held by June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
Judicial Branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Political Parties: Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Caledonian Union or UC [leader NA]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (anti independent) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; The Future Together or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]
Head of State: President Nicolas SARKOZY
Head of Government: President of the Government Philippe Gomes
Cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the Territorial Congress
Elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-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 for a five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held 7 August 2007 when Harold MARTIN was elected following the resignation of Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU as president on 24 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014
National Holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
International Organization Participation: FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: none (overseas territory of France)
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: none (overseas territory of France)

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Noumea
Location: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
Time Difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
History: established in 1854 as Port-de-France, the settlement was renamed Noumea in 1866, in order to avoid any confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique; the New Caledonian language of Ndrumbea (also spelled Ndumbea, Dubea, and Drubea) spoken in the area gave its name to the capital city, Noumea, as well as to the neighboring town (suburb) of Dumbea

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

There is no U.S. Embassy or diplomatic post in New Caledonia. The U.S. Embassy in Fiji provides assistance for U.S. citizens in New Caledonia. U.S. Embassy Suva 158 Princes Road, Suva, Fiji (679) 331-4466 Emergency after-hours telephone: (679) 772-8049 Facsimile: (679) 330-2267