Iin one referendum New Caledonians decide this Sunday whether they want to remain related to France. The Pacific island is of great strategic importance to the government in Paris, not only because of its mineral resources, but also to prevent a dangerous domination by China. It did not go unnoticed in France that the Chinese leadership was supporting the independence movement. That’s why President Emmanuel Macron expects No Two Independence to get a majority on Sunday. At his press conference at the Elysee Palace on Thursday evening, he was convinced. He clarified that “France would be less beautiful without New Caledonia,” he said. As president, however, he does not wish to favor one camp, but rather to prepare “the day after tomorrow”.

On Sunday voters will be asked: “Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?” It is the third and final referendum in the autonomy process initiated by socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard (1988–1991). long sign on english vowel Reminded that he has to hold all three referendums during his tenure. Voters rejected independence twice. On November 4, 2018, 56.7 percent of voters disapproved of a break with France, and on October 4, 2020, 53.3 percent of voters confirmed their wish to remain French.

40 percent of the world’s nickel reserves

The group of islands in the northeast of Australia was a French colony from 1853 to 1946. Since then it has enjoyed wide autonomy and, unlike the French overseas departments and territories, has a special status in the European Union. New Caledonia has important French military bases for the Pacific.

The archipelago also forms the backdrop of great anger in Paris over the sale of a broken submarine to Australia. France combined the arms trade with a desire to fully integrate it into the Western Pacific strategy. Economically, the island with its 300,000 inhabitants plays an important role due to nickel deposits. Forty percent of the world’s reserves are in New Caledonia.