Isabelle Merle

New Caledonia votes in first provincial polls since 2019, turnout drops sharply as loyalists gain ground

New Caledonia's first provincial elections since 2019 saw a sharp drop in turnout on Sunday, with early indications pointing to stronger loyalist representation in Congress while the independence camp held steady. The calm vote is set to shape negotiations over the archipelago's institutional future, deadlocked since deadly riots in May 2024.