The group opposing the Goro Nickel Mining Project in New Caledonia, Rheebu Nuu, has won the local elections in the town of Yate.
In the second round of the municipal elections, there was little change with the conservative Rassemblement-UMP party holding power in six towns, including the capital, Noumea, while the centre right Future Together party won seven.
The pro-independence parties won in the Loyalty Islands and in the north of the main island.
Claudine Wery reports from Noumea.
"Concerning Yate, Goro Nickel says it could be a good thing to have someone from Rheebu Nuu managing the town of Yate, because they say they prefer to see Rheebu Nuu as an institutional partner. They say it's a good thing, but some people say it could be the opposite, because as Rheebu Nuu now has Yate as a locality they'll have more powers and it'll be easier for them to impose their point of view, because they have the legitimacy of the population."
Claudine Wery
