The French High Commissioner in New Caledonia has asked for the territory's government to meet this afternoon in a fresh bid to elect a president.
This follows a statement by the pro-independence camp that it will end the political crisis by opting for one of the candidates .
New Caledonia has been without a president for more than three months after the previous administration led by Cynthia Ligeard collapsed following a disagreement over fiscal policy among the anti-independence parties.
The Congress re-elected the same 11-member government in late December but its members have repeatedly failed to elect a president, which means the government remains in caretaker mode only.
The three anti-independence parties in the collegial government have six ministers and the pro-independence parties five.
Appeals by French leaders for a dialogue to end the impasse have been unsuccessful.
Last week, the pro-independence Caledonian Union decided not to choose any of the two the rival candidates after earlier saying it would make a decision as to who should lead the administration.
Caledonian Union leaders said there were passionate debates, but they have opted to seek collegialty and solidarity to overcome the impasse.
Cynthia Ligeard Photo: AFP
