Transcript
WALTER ZWEIFEL: The Noumea Accord has a provision that a government is not considered to be properly constituted unless it has a president. And without agreement among the 11 ministers on who should have the top job, they cannot take up their own jobs. It's a peculiarity of New Caledonia's system and a clause that has held up the formation of government before. The question now is who will change their stance
KOROI HAWKINS: What is the sticking point?
WZ: At the heart of the deadlock is a long-running rivalry within the anti-independence camp. For decades the defining line in politics has been spun between those for and against independence from France. And with the provincial elections giving the anti-independence parties a slim majority, there was a public expectation that they could agree on a president. However, the candidate of Future with Confidence Thierry Santa didn't succeed. The reason is that Caledonia Together refused to give him its support as the two sides have been bitter rivals for a while. This worsened with the last election in which Caledonia Together lost more than half its seats while Future with Confidence became the biggest party.
KH: There were other candidates though?
WZ: Yes, the two pro-independence parties put up Gilbert Tyuienon or Jean-Pierre Djaiwe, but they also failed. With this divide into anti- and pro-independence camps, there was little chance any of them would succeed. It is hard to imagine that parties who campaign against independence would give such politicians the presidency. There is also the perception issue in as far as majority of voters opting to stay with France would expect that to be reflected in government.
KH: Was this deadlock foreseeable?
WZ: It was the likely outcome for the past week because the new apparent kingmaker decided to side with Future with Confidence. The newly formed Pacific Awakening Party, which represents Wallisians and Futunians, had backed a pro-independence candidate for the Congress presidency two weeks ago. This fuelled fears that there could be a pro-independence president of the government. But after negotiations that followed, the new party joined Future with Confidence.
KH: What's next?
WZ: The French High Commissioner, who oversees the election of New Caledonia's president, will convene another meeting later this month in the hope there is a change in position. In the lead-up to the government election, the Future with Confidence warned Caledonia Together against taking everybody hostage, saying there was an urgency to deal with economic and social problems for which a government is needed
