The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (french: Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste, FLNKS) is a pro-independence alliance of political parties 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 ...

. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various political parties. Its supporters are mostly from the

Kanak The Kanak (French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2019 census, the Kanak make up 41.2% of New Caledonia' ...

indigenous population but also include supporters from other ethnic communities.

History

It is composed of the

Caledonian Union The Caledonian Union (, UC) is a pro-independence and the oldest political party in New Caledonia. In the latest legislative elections of May 10, 2009, the party won around 11.65% of the popular vote, and 9 out of 54 seats in the Territorial Co ...

(UC) (a centre-left formerly multi-ethnic party dating back to the early postwar period) on the one hand and the

National Union for Independence The National Union for Independence (french: Union nationale pour l'indépendance, UNI) is a militant Socialism, socialist Secession, pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It is a component of the Kanak Socialist Nationa ...

(UNI) on the other. The UNI includes

Melanesian Progressive Union The Melanesian Progressive Union (french: Union progressiste mélanésienne, UPM) is a militant socialist pro-independence political party in New Caledonia. It is a component of the National Union for Independence, which in turn is one of the ...

(a political movement based on the island's west coast and mainly around the village of Poya, where its founder, the late Edmond Nekiriai, came from), the

Oceanian Democratic Rally The Oceanian Democratic Rally (french: Rassemblement démocratique océanien, RDO) is a militant socialist pro-independence political party in New Caledonia. It is a component of the National Union for Independence, which in turn is one of th ...

(a Polynesian ( Wallisian-and-Futunian) based party) and the

Party of Kanak Liberation The Party of Kanak Liberation (french: Parti de libération kanak, Palika) is a socialist pro-independence political party in New Caledonia. It is a component of the National Union for Independence, which in turn is one of the two components of ...

(PALIKA), a more radical party founded by left-leaning students that came back from France after the May 1968 riots. Both the UC and UNI are of approximately equal size, and with varying rhetoric. However, all support the independence of

. The party boycotted the 1987 independence referendum.New Caledonia (France), 13 September 1987: Status
Direct Democracy The party has been divided since the early 1990s between the Caledonian Union and UNI, and, as a result, the two factions often run candidates and lists against each other and neither can agree on a leader of the FLNKS. The coalition only has a spokesperson, Victor Tutugoro. An attempt to re-unite the party was made on the occasion of the 2007 legislative elections in France, in which both New Caledonian

constituencies An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other polity ...

were up for election. In

New Caledonia's 1st constituency The 1st constituency of New Caledonia is a French legislative constituency in New Caledonia. Between 1958 and 1962, the constituency represented the entirety of the New Hebrides condominium and the constituency represented the entirety of New ...

, Charles Washetine, a member of UNI-Palika, ran with a Caledonian Union running mate. In

New Caledonia's 2nd constituency The 2nd constituency of New Caledonia is a French legislative constituency in New Caledonia. The second constituency was created in a redistricting in 1978. Between 1978 and a new redistricting in 1986, the second constituency represented the ethn ...

, the leader of the Caledonian Union, Charles Pidjot, ran with a UNI-Palika running mate. However, both were defeated by the candidates of The Rally-UMP. The FLNKS ran a common list in the South Province in the 2009 election which obtained 8.82% and 4 seats in the province. In the province during the 2004 elections, the pro-independence faction was divided and did not win any seats.

Presidents

Jean-Marie Tjibaou Jean-Marie Tjibaou (January 30, 1936 – May 4, 1989) was a French politician in New Caledonia and leader of the Kanak independence movement. The son of a tribal chief, Tjibaou was ordained a Catholic priest but abandoned his religious vocation fo ...

(1984–1989) *

Paul Néaoutyine Paul Néaoutyine (born October 12, 1951 in Poindimié) is a New Caledonian politician. A Kanak The Kanak (French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France ...

(1989–1995) *

Roch Wamytan Roch Wamytan or Rock Wamytan (born 13 December 1950) is a Kanak politician from New Caledonia. He is currently serving as President of the Congress of New Caledonia since May 2019, having previously been in the position from 2011 to 2012, and fro ...

(1995–2001)

References

1984 establishments in New Caledonia Left-wing nationalist parties Left-wing political party alliances Melanesian socialism Political parties established in 1984 Political parties in New Caledonia Political party alliances in France Secessionist organizations Separatism in France Socialist parties in New Caledonia {{Oceania-party-stub

History

Presidents

See also

References