France is lifting the state of emergency in its overseas territory New Caledonia, it said today the office of President Emmanuel Macron, quoted by DPA and BTA.
The measure, introduced on May 15 due to unrest in the South Pacific Overseas Territory, will not be extended and will end at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow morning local time (today at 9:00 p.m. Bulgarian time), local media reported, citing of the Elysée Palace.
French media reports that the government hopes the decision will help dialogue. At the same time, it is of the opinion that a precondition for negotiations is the lifting of the road blockades by the protesters.
Paris has announced it will deploy 480 additional police officers, bringing the number of French security forces in New Caledonia to around 3,500.
Although the situation has largely calmed down, the capital Noumea's airport will remain closed to all passenger flights until at least June 2.
Last week, Macron arrived on the islands to discuss solutions to the problem with local political forces and calm the situation.
Protests demanding independence, in which seven people died and hundreds were detained, were sparked by constitutional amendments planned by Paris. They would give thousands of French-born residents of the archipelago the right to vote, giving them more political influence in New Caledonia. The indigenous population of New Caledonia – the Kanaks – they have long wanted their side and fear that amendments to the Basic Law will put them in a bad position.
In three referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021, residents of the former French colony voted to remain part of France. However, after the last vote, which was boycotted by separatists, talks on a new status have stalled.
New Caledonia has historically been important to France militarily and geopolitically, as well as for its large nickel deposits.