New Caledonia’s 11 newly elected ministers have again failed to elect a new president.
Like two weeks ago, none of the three candidates managed to secure the support 3 of at least six ministers.
At today’s meeting called by the French High Commissioner Laurent Prévost 4 , the anti-independence Future with Confidence coalition’s Thierry Santa won four votes while the two pro-independence contenders, Louis Mapou (UNI candidate) and Samuel Hnepeune I(UC-FLNKS), secured three votes each.
The Caledonia Together minister again abstained.
Without a president, the government is not properly constituted and the previous government, which fell a month ago, will remain in a caretaker capacity.
A date for another election attempt is yet to be set.
A budget needs to be passed before the end of the month for the territory to avoid being placed under French stewardship.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
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