At the heart of the "two flags" controversy: The French Tricolore and the Kanak pro-independence flag. Photo: PMC archive

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Patrick Antoine Decloître

The French government and Parliament is tidying up perceived loose ends in the institutional and electoral systems in its two major Pacific territories – New Caledonia and French Polynesia, -where instability has been undermining economic performance.

In New Caledonia, where governments have constantly been toppled due to the resignation of one component party (which was using a provision of the Nouméa Accord promoting multiparty executive and therefore deemed as one party resigning meant the whole government was considered to have resigned), the French National Assembly (Lower House) on Thursday endorsed the final step of a revamp of the French Pacific territory’s organic law.

The changes, which the French government has recently insisted on not calling “amendments”, mean in essence that the former provision is now replaced by a new rule, introduced to strengthen stability: any newly elected government by New Caledonia’s Congress now has a minimum immunity period of 18 months before any motion of no confidence can be lodged. Read more »

OUT: France's High Commissioner in Polynesia Adolphe Colrat (above) has now been replaced. Photo: Tahiti Presse

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Patrick Decloitre

IN: New French High Commissioner in Polynesia Richard Didier. Photo: French Government

France’s new envoy in French Polynesia, High Commissioner Richard Didier, has vowed to  tackle the French Pacific territory’s ongoing economic and political crises.

Didier took up his position in French Polynesia last week.

He was appointed in December 2010 to replace outgoing Adolphe Colrat who had held the position since mid-2008 and who has now been appointed Prefect to the Meurthe-et-Moselle region (northeastern France).

Didier, who was until recently Prefect for France’s Haute-Loire (Upper Loire) region, has also held several positions in related to the Pacific region. Read more »

Dual flags: The French Tricolore and the Kanak independence flag.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Patrick Decloitre in Suva

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office has announced a Presidential visit to New Caledonia late July 2011 for the official opening of the South Pacific Games, this year being hosted in the French Pacific territory.

The visit would be the first to the Pacific for the French head of state, whose office had earlier announced similar trips that did not eventuate.

The 2011 Pacific Games will be officially opened in New Caledonia in late August. Read more »

French Polynesia’s President Gaston Tong Sang with Nicolas Sarkozy in May 2007. Photo: Oceania Flash

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Patrick Decloitre

French Polynesia’s President Gaston Tong Sang has called on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to dissolve the French Pacific territory’s legislative assembly and organise a snap election because of what he calls an unmanageable political situation.

Tong Sang said his move, which came as a surprise locally during attempts to elect a new Speaker for the House, came amid a failure to strengthen his parliamentary majority “in the country’s general interest”. Read more »

Pacific.Scoop
By Oceania Flash in Paris

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has signalled a new approach from Paris towards its overseas departments, countries and territories – including those in the Pacific.
Read more »