1979 New Caledonian legislative election

Early legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 1 July 1979 after the Government Council was dismissed by the French government and the High Commissioner dissolved the Assembly elected in 1977.[1]

Background

In March 1979 the Government Council of New Caledonia – controlled by the pro-independence Caledonian Union – was dismissed by the French government after failing to vote in favour of a ten-year plan for the territory. High Commissioner Claude Charbonniaud given executive power.[2]

A 10% electoral threshold was introduced for the elections, which was reported by Pacific Islands Monthly to mainly affect the prospects of indigenous and pro-independence parties.[2] As a result, the pro-independence Caledonian Union, Caledonian Socialist Party, Melanesian Progressive Union, Party of Kanak Liberation and United Front of Kanak Liberation formed the Independence Front.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Rally for Caledonia	20,153	40.24	15	+3
Independence Front	17,241	34.43	14	–2
Federation for a New Society in Caledonia	8,925	17.82	7	New
Caledonian Socialist Federation	1,345	2.69	0	New
Caledonian and Metropolitan Popular Rally	1,020	2.04	0	New
Union of Wallisians and Futunians in Caledonia	560	1.12	0	New
Caledonian Democrat Rally	544	1.09	0	New
Union for French Democracy	294	0.59	0	New
Invalid/blank votes	442	–	–	–
Total	50,524	100	36	+1
Registered voters/turnout	68,279	74.00	–	–
Source: Juridoc

Elected members

Constituency	Member	Party	Notes
East (7 seats)	François Burck	Independence Front (UC)
	Yves de Villelongue	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	André Gopea	Independence Front (UPM)	Re-elected
	Éloi Machoro	Independence Front (UC)	Re-elected
	Auguste Parawi-Reybas	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	Francis Poadouy	Independence Front (PALIKA)
	Jean-Marie Tjibaou	Independence Front (UC)	Re-elected
Islands (5 seats)	Nidoïsh Naisseline	Independence Front (PALIKA)	Re-elected
	Dick Ukeiwé	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	Yann Céléné Uregeï	Independence Front (FULK)	Re-elected
	Édouard Wapaé	Independence Front (UC)	Re-elected
	Yeiwéné Yeiwéné	Independence Front (UC)	Re-elected
South (17 seats)	Christian Boissery	Federation for a New Society in Caledonia
	Stanley Camerlynck	Federation for a New Society in Caledonia	Re-elected (previously UNC in East)
	Marie-Paule Charles	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	Lionel Cherrier	Federation for a New Society in Caledonia
	André Caillard	Rally for Caledonia
	René de Saint-Quentin	Rally for Caledonia
	Georges Faure	Rally for Caledonia
	Melito Finau	Federation for a New Society in Caledonia
	Max Frouin	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected (previously MLC)
	Jacques Lefleur	Rally for Caledonia
	Jean Lèques	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected (previously MLC)
	Roger Laroque	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	Petelo Manuofiua	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	Gérald Meyer	Federation for a New Society in Caledonia
	Jacques Mouren	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	Rock Pidjot	Independence Front (UC)	Re-elected
	Jacques Violette	Independence Front (PSC)	Re-elected
West (7 seats)	Jean-Pierre Aïfa	Federation for a New Society in Caledonia	Re-elected (previously UNC)
	Jean Delouvrier	Rally for Caledonia	Re-elected
	Justin Guillemard	Rally for Caledonia
	Gaston Morlet	Federation for a New Society in Caledonia	Re-elected (previously UD
	Gabriel Païta	Independence Front (UC)	Re-elected
	Maurice Lenormand	Independence Front (UC)	Re-elected
	Paul Napoarea	Independence Front (UC)
Source: Congress

References

1. New Caledonia votes Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1979, p7
2. Caledonia: HiCom rules Pacific Islands Monthly May 1979, p37