1957 New Caledonian legislative election explained

Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 6 October 1957.[1] The result was a victory for the Caledonian Union, which won 18 of the 30 seats.

Electoral system

Prior to the elections the 25-seat General Council was replaced by a 30-seat Territorial Assembly. The new body was elected by open list proportional representation.[2]

The elections were held under universal suffrage, with around 33,600 registered voters,[1] of which 18,964 were Kanaks and 13,406 Europeans.[3]

Campaign

A total of 123 candidates contested the 30 seats, representing eight parties.[1] The campaign started on 16 September,[4] and was reported by Pacific Islands Monthly to have been "mild, with hardly an unkind word exchanged".[1]

Results

Of the 30 elected members, 17 were Europeans and 13 Kanaks.[1]

Elected members

ConstituencyMemberParty
East (7 seats)Bernard BrouNational Centre of Social Republicans
Évenor de GreslanCaledonian Union
Antoine GriscelliCaledonian Union
Kiolet Néa GaletCaledonian Union
Émile Wénou NécheroCaledonian Union
Jonas Hiaboués PagoubealoCaledonian Union
Doui Matayo WettaCaledonian Union
Islands (5 seats)Paul KatreiCaledonian Union
Michel KaumaCaledonian Union
Henri NaisselineNational Centre of Social Republicans
Pascal SihazéNational Centre of Social Republicans
Dick UkeiwéCaledonian Union
South (10 seats)Edmond CaillardNational Centre of Social Republicans
Georges ChatenayNational Centre of Social Republicans
Georges DuboisLafleur Party
Thomas HagenNational Centre of Social Republicans
Henri LafleurLafleur Party
Jean Le BorgneCaledonian Union
Gabriel MussotRally of Caledonian Workers
Armand OhlenCaledonian Union
Rock PidjotCaledonian Union
Albert SatragneLafleur Party
West (8 seats)Lucien AllardCaledonian Union
Marcel BordesGroup of Caledonian Peasants
Émile CharletCaledonian Union
Raymond ClavierCaledonian Union
René HéninNational Centre of Social Republicans
Maurice LenormandCaledonian Union
Gabriel PaïtaCaledonian Union
Théophile Wakolo PouyéCaledonian Union

Aftermath

An eight-member cabinet was elected by the Territorial Assembly in late October. All eight ministers were from the Caledonian Union.[5]

Notes and References

  1. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-320273875/view?partId=nla.obj-320323460#page/n18/mode/1up/ New Caledonia Polls: The Most Important Election Ever
  2. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-320273834/view?partId=nla.obj-320297530#page/n165/mode/1up/ New Governing Body for New Caledonia
  3. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-320274176/view?partId=nla.obj-320545698#page/n19/mode/1up/ Governor's Action Saves N. Caledonia From Civil War
  4. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-320273850/view?partId=nla.obj-320300914#page/n19/mode/1up/ The date of the New Caledonia elections is set down
  5. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-320273891/view?partId=nla.obj-320348014#page/n26/mode/1up/ N. Caledonia Elects New Cabinet