First Round of National Assembly Elections Disrupted in New Caledonia

The first round of elections for the National Assembly (lower house of Parliament) in France has been disrupted in the polling stations of the Wailu commune in New Caledonia. According to Outre-mer La Premiere television channel, unidentified individuals blocked the entrance to the town hall with a vehicle and set it on fire.

The incident occurred on the night of June 30, just before the opening of polling stations near the town hall. In addition to the burning vehicle, the unknown individuals left a heavy concrete block and branches at the entrance. As a result, neither voters nor even the community leader were able to enter the building, and ballot boxes were not set up. Voting has been halted.

The elections in New Caledonia are taking place in a tense atmosphere, as protests against electoral reforms initiated by the government of the Republic have not fully abated in this overseas territory. According to the reforms, besides indigenous peoples, citizens who have lived in New Caledonia for more than 10 years are also granted the right to vote.

Following the disturbances in May, additional police and gendarmerie units have been dispatched to the island. They are ensuring the functioning of government structures and removing the barricades set up by protesters on the roads.