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1972 New Caledonian legislative election

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Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 10 September 1972. They had originally been scheduled for July, but were postponed by the French government.[1] Anti-autonomist parties won 18 of the 35 seats, with the previously dominant Caledonian Union reduced from the 22 seats it won in 1967 to only 12.[2]

Background

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Prior to the elections, the Caledonian Union (UC) held 12 seats in the 35-member Territorial Assembly, the Caledonian Liberal Movement (a breakaway from the UC) seven, the Democratic Union five, the Multi-Racial Union four, the Democratic and Social Agreement four, the Association of French Caledonians and Loyalists one, the Civic Union one and the Caledonian Popular Movement one.[1]

Campaign

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Nine parties contested the elections, with eleven lists running in the South constituency covering Nouméa.[3][2]

Results

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Pro-autonomy parties (the Caledonian Union and Multi-Racial Union) won seventeen seats, with anti-autonomist parties (the Democratic and Social Agreement, the Caledonian Liberal Movement, Democratic Union, Caledonian Popular Movement and AICLO) winning eighteen.

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Caledonian Union12–10
Democratic and Social Agreement6New
Caledonian Liberal Movement5New
Multi-Racial Union5New
Democratic Union4New
Caledonian Popular Movement2New
Association of French Caledonians and Loyalists1New
Civic Union0New
Total350
Registered voters/turnout46,349
Source: Le Borgne,[4] Pacific Islands Monthly

Elected members

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Constituency Member Party Notes
East (7 seats) Eugène Awaya Caledonian Union
Jean-Marie Chanene Caledonian Union
Roland Caron Caledonian Union Re-elected
Marcel Dubois Democratic Union
André Gopea Multi-Racial Union
Similien Nahiet Caledonian Union Re-elected
Kiolet Néa Galet Association of French Caledonians and Loyalists Re-elected (previously Entente)
Islands (5 seats) Jérôme Banukone Caledonian Union
Jean Caba Caledonian Union Re-elected
Pierre Issamatro Multi-Racial Union
Willy Némia Multi-Racial Union
Yann Céléné Uregeï Multi-Racial Union Re-elected (previously UC)
South (16 seats) Alain Bernut Caledonian Popular Movement Re-elected (previously NC)
Edmond Caillard Democratic and Social Agreement
Georges Chatenay Democratic Union Re-elected (previously Entente)
Lionel Cherrier Democratic and Social Agreement
Claude Fournier Caledonian Popular Movement
Max Frouin Caledonian Liberal Movement Re-elected (previously UC)
Fredy Gosse Caledonian Liberal Movement
Paul Griscelli Caledonian Union Re-elected
Michel Kauma Democratic and Social Agreement
Jacques Lafleur Democratic and Social Agreement Re-elected
Roger Laroque Democratic and Social Agreement
Maurice Lenormand Caledonian Union
Jean Lèques Caledonian Liberal Movement Re-elected (previously UC)
Claude Parazols Caledonian Liberal Movement Re-elected (previously Entente)
Rock Pidjot Caledonian Union Re-elected
Dick Ukeiwé Democratic Union
West (7 seats) Jean-Pierre Aïfa Caledonian Union Re-elected (previously in South)
René Hénin Democratic Union Re-elected (previously Entente in South)
Georges Nagle Caledonian Liberal Movement Re-elected (previously UC)
Paul Napoarea Caledonian Union Re-elected
Edmond Nékiria Multi-Racial Union
Gabriel Païta Caledonian Union Re-elected
Roger Pêne Democratic and Social Agreement Re-elected
Source: Congress

Aftermath

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Although anti-autonomist parties won a one-seat majority, by early 1973 autonomist parties held 20 of the 35 seats following the defection of three members, including Fredy Gosse.[5]

Georges Chatenay resigned from the Assembly in March 1974 and was replaced by Joseph Tidjine.[6] Gosse resigned in May 1974 and was replaced by Evenor de Greslan.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Caledonian politball: Hearing up for final Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1972, p30
  2. ^ a b Caledonians say a careful 'no' to the autonomists Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1972, p27
  3. ^ Governor dons sporting gear for New Caledonia's election game Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1972, p17
  4. ^ Jean Le Borgne (2005) Nouvelle-Calédonie, 1945-1968: la confiance trahie, Harmattan, p536
  5. ^ The game is anything but cricket in New Caledonia Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1973, p26
  6. ^ A 'deceived' Chatenay bows out of Caledonian politics Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1974, p10
  7. ^ Another Caledonian MP resigns Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1974, p3