Separatist Roch Wamytan was re-elected for the fourth time in a row, on Tuesday August 30, as President of the Congress of New Caledonia.
The re-election of Roch Wamytan as President of the Congress of New Caledonia is not a surprise. For the fourth time since the start of his term of office (2019-2024), Roch Wamytan, 71, from the ranks of the UC-FLNKS (Caledonian Union), was elected thanks to the three elected members of the Polynesian party l’Éveil Océanien. , able to switch between the 26 elected separatists and the 25 elected loyalists.
This formation, an emanation of the Wallisian and Futunian community of Caledonia, justified its vote by a desire ” institutional alignment of government and Congress ” to lead “ structural reforms » in terms of taxation, social protection or housing. The two FLNKS groups (UNI and UC) signed last week with the Oceanian Awakening (EO) a “ institutional stability agreement » until 2024 also relating to job sharing and allocation of human and material resources.
This annual election does not change the balance of power within the local chessboard. Since July 2021, thanks to their alliance with the EO, the separatists have also chaired the collegiate government.
” Denial of democracy »
Roch Wamytan asked “ the people’s elected representatives to feel committed (…) to reduce social inequalities, revive the economy and the purchasing power of our fellow citizens “.
Gil Brial, an unsuccessful Loyalist candidate, denounced ” a denial of democracy “, arguing that in the territorial elections of 2019 his camp was in the majority in number of votes but no seats due to the proportional voting system. The two groups affiliated with the presidential Renaissance party, Les Loyalists and Calédonie Ensemble, hailed “ non-independence unity on the occasion of this election.
Roch Wamytan’s re-election comes as talks with the state are due to open to give New Caledonia a new status after three independence referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021, won by the pro-Franceand which marked an end to the Nouméa agreement of 1998.
(with AFP)