"French President Emmanuel Macron said he was open to suspending a contentious voting-rights bill that triggered deadly riots in New Caledonia on the condition that order is restored across the French overseas territory and factions return to the negotiating table.
Macron arrived in New Caledonia on Thursday, looking for ways to end a crisis that has raised questions about France's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. He plunged into a series of marathon meetings with local officials, business leaders, and pro- and anti-independence groups.
Protesters have set public buildings on fire, looted shops and barricaded roads. Six people died in the violence, which has caused damage of about 1 billion euros, equivalent to $1.08 billion, according to the New Caledonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A short-lived cyberattack sought to topple the archipelago's internet on Tuesday, local officials said. Hundreds of tourists have been airlifted out.
The riots were triggered more than a week ago by efforts in Paris to pass legislation that would extend voting rights in local elections to all citizens who have been residents of New Caledonia for 10 years, something opponents say would risk diluting the influence of the indigenous Kanak, who make up about 40% of the territory's population of nearly 300,000.
The bill followed years of failed negotiations between anti- and pro-independence groups on a broader agreement on the archipelago's future and governance.
Macron said Thursday he was ready to suspend plans to ratify the bill in late June if protesters dismantled road blockades that have crippled New Caledonia's economy. Macron also asked both camps to resume talks immediately, saying any pause in the bill's ratification was intended to give the factions time to reach a broader agreement.
"I made a commitment that this reform won't be forced through today," he said, adding he would assess the progress made in a month's time to decide on the next steps.
The French leader also pledged to set up an emergency fund to help repair the damage caused by the riots.
Local authorities said the violence appeared to recede but the situation remained tense, as protesters continued to block several roads.
The unrest is a blow to the French leader's ambitions to restore France's influence as a global power since he was first elected in 2017. New Caledonia is central to Macron's Indo-Pacific strategy and France's ability to counter China's expansionism in the region. The archipelago also allows France to maintain the world's second-largest exclusive economic zone, after the U.S.
Macron's trip was being closely watched in Paris as opponents demand that he somehow bring the situation under control and allies brace for fallout, with European Parliament elections right around the corner.
"Here comes the fireman after he set the fire!" Jimmy Naouna, a spokesperson from the pro-independence Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste, wrote on X in response to Macron's visit." [1]
1. World News: Macron Tries to Quell New Caledonia Riots. Bisserbe, Noemie; Meichtry, Stacy. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 24 May 2024: A.8.
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