The vote was closely monitored in the South Pacific.
Emmanuel Macron, the French President, hailed the outcome as a resounding affirmation of France's involvement in the Indo-Pacific and announced negotiations about the future status of the territory. Separatist activists expressed dismay or resignation.
They had called for a delay of the vote due to the pandemic and were furious at French government attempts to influence the campaign. They urged their supporters not to vote.
They did. Official results revealed that 96% of participants chose to remain in France. The overall turnout was only 42%, less than half of those who participated in the previous independence referendum last January where there was 46.7% support for separation.
"Tonight, we are French and we will remain that way. It's not negotiable," stated Sonia Backes (president of the Southern Province region) and a fierce loyalist.
The U.N. and other regional powers monitored the vote amid global efforts to decolonize the region and growing Chinese influence. New Caledonia was colonized by Napoleon's nephew, in the 19th Century. It is an archipelago with approximately 270,000 inhabitants east of Australia, which is 10 times faster than Paris and also hosts a French military base.
Macron declared in a national television address that "Tonight France has become more beautiful because New Caledonia chose to stay."
The boycott was not addressed by Macron. Macron noted that the electorate was "deeply divided" and pledged respect for all Caledonians, including those who voted for independence.
Sunday's vote was third in a decade-long process of decolonization that began in 1988 with violence. It led to New Caledonia receiving broad autonomy under the Noumea Agreement. This was done to settle tensions between the native Kanaks who seek independence and those who want France to retain the territory.
The process doesn't end with the final referendum. The state, separatists, and non-separatists have now 18 months to negotiate a new French status for the territory.
Macron stated that Macron is calling for negotiations to create new structures to address health crises, boost economic growth, protect the environment and improve women's rights, all of which are major concerns in this territory.
The enthusiasm to vote was also affected by a tropical storm warning. As winds whipped palm trees along the streets of Noumea, lines snaked out from some polling stations. However, turnout at other polling stations was almost non-existent.
In the archipelago's 307 voting stations, people were asked: "Do You Want New Caledonia To Gain Full Sovereignty and Be Independent?" They had to wear masks and take social distancing steps.
Because of the boycott call, campaign and voting day were unusually quiet.
43.6% supported independence in the 2018 referendum, while 46.7% supported it in the 2020 second. Although support for a yes vote appeared to be increasing, the first coronavirus epidemic in the region in September caused chaos. New Caledonia was one of few places on the planet that had not been infected by viruses until then.
The archipelago had already reported 271 deaths from COVID-19 by November. Therefore, the regional Senate declared a year of traditional Kanak mourning. Independence activists demanded the postponement of the referendum because they felt they could not campaign for respect for their deceased.
Pro-France groups argued that the vote should be held as scheduled to end uncertainty about New Caledonia’s future and boost its economic prospects. Pro-independence activists said they would not take part in the referendum, accusing Paris of imposition of the date and violating neutrality for publishing a document that was seen as putting the consequences of independence in a negative context.
France wants to consolidate its presence in the Indo-Pacific after losing a multibillion-dollar submarine deal due to a partnership Australia formed. France suffered a major blow when it was revealed that a secretly negotiated submarine project had been announced in September. It was intended to counter Chinese ambitions in the area. One of the two French bases in the Pacific is located in New Caledonia.
Macron stated that the vote sent a message to the Indo-Pacific while it is going through "recomposition" as well as facing "strong tensions."
The U.N. supported New Caledonia's process of decolonization and sent electoral observers to observe Sunday's vote. A delegation was also sent by the Pacific Islands Forum to observe Sunday's vote.
