Emmanuel Macron will go “ from this evening » in New Caledonia, shaken by an outbreak of violence, to install “ a mission », announced this Tuesday, May 21, government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot.
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“ It was announced by the President of the Republic, in the Council of Ministers, that he will go there (in New Caledonia). He will leave there this evening to set up a mission there », affirmed Ms. Thevenot at the end of the Council of Ministers. The president leaves in a spirit of responsibility », added the spokesperson without detailing the “ assignment » mentioned nor specify how long the head of state would stay on the archipelago.
She reiterated that “ the return to order was the prerequisite for any dialogue “, while an electoral reform contested by the separatists must be validated “ before the end of Julyn” according to Emmanuel Macron, by the Congress bringing together senators and deputies. But ” the executive continues (…) the construction of the political solution for the territory “, she also said.
The extension of the state of emergency, decreed last Wednesday, “ was not addressed »during this Council of Ministers, the government spokesperson further indicated. “ Although the situation needs to be further improved, it is on the way to normalizing “, she justified.
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This exceptional situation cannot be extended beyond twelve days without submitting a text to Parliament. A possible extension would require a referral to the National Assembly and the Senate before May 27.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will have “ also the opportunity to go there (to the archipelago), not immediately but in the coming weeks », Specified Ms. Thevenot while the Caledonian file has no longer been managed directly by Matignon since 2020 and three former Prime Ministers are pleading for it to be managed again from rue de Varenne.
After a week of riots in reaction to a reform of the electoral body which left six dead including two gendarmes, Emmanuel Macron noted during a Defense Council on Monday ” clear progress in restoring order » in New Caledonia.
The executive had on this occasion decided to mobilize “ for a time » military personnel for “ protect public buildings » and thus relieve the internal security forces, according to the Élysée.
Nouméa international airport, however, remains closed to commercial flights until 9:00 a.m. Saturday (12:00 a.m. in Paris), the platform manager said on Tuesday.
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