Summary
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 edit
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 edit
Nine parties contested the elections, with eleven lists running in the South constituency covering Nouméa.[3][2]
Results edit
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.
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caledonian Union | 12 | –10 | |||
| Democratic and Social Agreement | 6 | New | |||
| Caledonian Liberal Movement | 5 | New | |||
| Multi-Racial Union | 5 | New | |||
| Democratic Union | 4 | New | |||
| Caledonian Popular Movement | 2 | New | |||
| Association of French Caledonians and Loyalists | 1 | New | |||
| Civic Union | 0 | New | |||
| Total | 35 | 0 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 46,349 | – | |||
| Source: Le Borgne,[4] Pacific Islands Monthly | |||||
Elected members edit
| 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 edit
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 edit
- ^ a b Caledonian politball: Hearing up for final Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1972, p30
- ^ a b Caledonians say a careful 'no' to the autonomists Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1972, p27
- ^ Governor dons sporting gear for New Caledonia's election game Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1972, p17
- ^ Jean Le Borgne (2005) Nouvelle-Calédonie, 1945-1968: la confiance trahie, Harmattan, p536
- ^ The game is anything but cricket in New Caledonia Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1973, p26
- ^ A 'deceived' Chatenay bows out of Caledonian politics Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1974, p10
- ^ Another Caledonian MP resigns Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1974, p3