French lawmakers have rejected a constitutional reform for New Caledonia, dealing a major setback to efforts to redefine the Pacific territory's status within France. The National Assembly voted 190 to 107 to reject the bill, which sought to enshrine the 2025 Bougival accord into the constitution. The agreement, signed between the French government and some New Caledonian political groups, proposed creating a State of New Caledonia within the French Republic, complete with its own nationality and potential sovereign powers. Pro-independence MP Emmanuel Tjibaou, who introduced the bill, argued it risked "partition" by creating unequal powers across the territory's provinces. The FLNKS, the main pro-independence coalition, has denounced the Bougival accord, with Tjibaou declaring it "the break with the decolonisation process."
The reform also aimed to delay provincial elections for a fourth time and expand voting rights beyond those settled in New Caledonia before 1998 and their descendants. Under the proposal, people born in the territory, their spouses, and residents of at least 15 years could gain eligibility. Loyalist MP Nicolas Metzdorf defended the accord as the product of "major concessions," while critics, especially from the FLNKS, warned it would dilute Kanak political influence. Overseas territories minister Naïma Moutchou urged lawmakers to support the bill, stating its core changes would only take effect if approved by New Caledonians in a future vote. She cautioned that rejection could set the territory back "years."
Left-wing and far-right National Rally (RN) lawmakers opposed the bill. RN leader Marine Le Pen called it "dangerous for national unity," saying it opened the door to independence. With no consensus, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced talks with signatories of the Bougival accord, as stipulated in the agreement for such a deadlock. Officials in Lecornu's circle indicated a direct consultation of New Caledonians could be considered.
When Sébastien Lecornu insists the government will "take its responsibilities" without "paralysis or forcing things through," he is acknowledging that France can no longer dictate terms in New Caledonia. The 190-to-107 vote isn't just a legislative loss—it reveals that Paris no longer holds unilateral control over the territory's political future. With the FLNKS refusing to engage and the RN opposing any path toward sovereignty, the only viable outcome now is a referendum driven by New Caledonians themselves. Anything less risks repeating the unrest that followed the last reform attempt.
