Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 10 September 1972. They had originally been scheduled for July, but were postponed by the French government.[1] Anti-autonomist parties won 18 of the 35 seats, with the previously dominant Caledonian Union reduced from the 22 seats it won in 1967 to only 12.[2]
Prior to the elections, the Caledonian Union (UC) held 12 seats in the 35-member Territorial Assembly, the Caledonian Liberal Movement (a breakaway from the UC) seven, the Democratic Union five, the Multi-Racial Union four, the Democratic and Social Agreement four, the Association of French Caledonians and Loyalists one, the Civic Union one and the Caledonian Popular Movement one.[1]
Nine parties contested the elections, with eleven lists running in the South constituency covering Nouméa.[3] [2]
Pro-autonomy parties (the Caledonian Union and Multi-Racial Union) won seventeen seats, with anti-autonomist parties (the Democratic and Social Agreement, the Caledonian Liberal Movement, Democratic Union, Caledonian Popular Movement and AICLO) winning eighteen.
| Constituency | Member | Party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East (7 seats) | Eugène Awaya | Caledonian Union | ||
| Jean-Marie Chanene | Caledonian Union | |||
| Roland Caron | Caledonian Union | Re-elected | ||
| Marcel Dubois | Democratic Union | |||
| André Gopea | Multi-Racial Union | |||
| Similien Nahiet | Caledonian Union | Re-elected | ||
| Kiolet Néa Galet | Association of French Caledonians and Loyalists | Re-elected (previously Entente) | ||
| Islands (5 seats) | Jérôme Banukone | Caledonian Union | ||
| Jean Caba | Caledonian Union | Re-elected | ||
| Pierre Issamatro | Multi-Racial Union | |||
| Willy Némia | Multi-Racial Union | |||
| Yann Céléné Uregeï | Multi-Racial Union | Re-elected (previously UC) | ||
| South (16 seats) | Alain Bernut | Caledonian Popular Movement | Re-elected (previously NC) | |
| Edmond Caillard | Democratic and Social Agreement | |||
| Georges Chatenay | Democratic Union | Re-elected (previously Entente) | ||
| Lionel Cherrier | Democratic and Social Agreement | |||
| Claude Fournier | Caledonian Popular Movement | |||
| Max Frouin | Caledonian Liberal Movement | Re-elected (previously UC) | ||
| Fredy Gosse | Caledonian Liberal Movement | |||
| Paul Griscelli | Caledonian Union | Re-elected | ||
| Michel Kauma | Democratic and Social Agreement | |||
| Jacques Lafleur | Democratic and Social Agreement | Re-elected | ||
| Roger Laroque | Democratic and Social Agreement | |||
| Maurice Lenormand | Caledonian Union | |||
| Jean Lèques | Caledonian Liberal Movement | Re-elected (previously UC) | ||
| Claude Parazols | Caledonian Liberal Movement | Re-elected (previously Entente) | ||
| Rock Pidjot | Caledonian Union | Re-elected | ||
| Dick Ukeiwé | Democratic Union | |||
| West (7 seats) | Jean-Pierre Aïfa | Caledonian Union | Re-elected (previously in South) | |
| René Hénin | Democratic Union | Re-elected (previously Entente in South) | ||
| Georges Nagle | Caledonian Liberal Movement | Re-elected (previously UC) | ||
| Paul Napoarea | Caledonian Union | Re-elected | ||
| Edmond Nékiria | Multi-Racial Union | |||
| Gabriel Païta | Caledonian Union | Re-elected | ||
| Roger Pêne | Democratic and Social Agreement | Re-elected | ||
| Source: Congress | ||||
Although anti-autonomist parties won a one-seat majority, by early 1973 autonomist parties held 20 of the 35 seats following the defection of three members, including Fredy Gosse.[4]
Georges Chatenay resigned from the Assembly in March 1974 and was replaced by Joseph Tidjine.[5] Gosse resigned in May 1974 and was replaced by Evenor de Greslan.[6]