Early legislative elections were held in

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

on 29 September 1985.Vitalk win for Kanaks... but will 'fortress Noumea' open its doors
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', November 1985, pp13–14 They were called after the

1984 elections The following elections occurred in the year 1984. Africa * 1984 Beninese parliamentary election * 1984 Botswana general election * 1984 Burundian presidential election * 1984 Cameroonian presidential election * 1984 Comorian presidential electi ...

had been boycotted by the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) and were marred by violence that continued for several weeks after election day. Following an agreement reached between the French government and pro- and anti-independence groups, New Caledonia was split into four regions, each with its own Assembly, with the members of the four assemblies uniting to form the territorial Congress, which replaced the Territorial Assembly. The FLNKS won a majority in three of the four regional assemblies, with the Caldoche-backed Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (RPCR) won a large majority in the Nouméa region. However, with the South region having by far the largest population, the RCPR received 61% of the total vote across the territory and won 26 of the 46 seats in Congress, with the FLNKS winning 16.

Campaign

Several French prominent politicians visited the territory during the election campaign to support the RPCR, including

Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac (, , ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. Chirac was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988, as well as Ma ...

and Francois Leotard of the

Rally for the Republic The Rally for the Republic (french: Rassemblement pour la République ; RPR ), was a Gaullist and conservative political party in France. Originating from the Union of Democrats for the Republic (UDR), it was founded by Jacques Chirac in 1976 a ...

, Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front and Gaston Flosse, president of French Polynesia.

Conduct

Although election day was violence-free, a bomb was detonated at the Land Office and Office for the Development of the Interior and the Islands in Nouméa on the day before.

Results

By region

Aftermath

The regional assemblies convened on 6 October to elect their presidents;

Léopold Jorédié Léopold Jorédié (1947 – 8 September 2013) was a former Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia who served under Jean Lèques. As VP he was given a suspended sentence for corruption. In 2007 he was declared unfit to hold public offic ...

(FLNKS) was elected in the Central region, Yeiwéné Yeiwéné (FLNKS) in the Loyalty Islands, Jean-Marie Tjibaou (FLNKS) in North region and

Jean Lèques Jean Lèques (31 August 1931 – 1 June 2022) was a New Caledonian politician. He served as mayor of Nouméa from 1986 to 2014; between 1999 and 2001 he was the first sitting president of the government of New Caledonia New Caledonia is ...

(RPCR) in the South region. Two days later Dick Ukeiwé was elected President of the Congress, defeating Tjibaou by 29 votes to 13.Caledonia councils elect leaders
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', November 1985, p7

Notes

References

{{New Caledonian elections

Elections in New Caledonia Legislative