| Country: | New Caledonia |
| Election Date: | 1 July 1979 |
| Previous Election: | 1977 |
| Next Election: | 1984 |
| Seats For Election: | All 36 seats in Congress |
| Majority Seats: | 18 |
| Party1: | Rally for Caledonia |
| Leader1: | Jacques Lafleur |
| Last Election1: | 12 |
| Seats1: | 15 |
| Percentage1: | 40.24 |
| Leader2: | Jean-Marie Tjibaou |
| Party2: | Caledonian Union |
| Last Election2: | 16 |
| Seats2: | 14 |
| Percentage2: | 34.43 |
| Party3: | FNSC |
| Leader3: | Jean-Pierre Aïfa |
| Last Election3: | New |
| Seats3: | 7 |
| Percentage3: | 17.82 |
Early legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 1 July 1979 after the Government Council was dismissed by the French government and the High Commissioner dissolved the Assembly elected in 1977.[1]
In March 1979 the Government Council of New Caledonia – controlled by the pro-independence Caledonian Union – was dismissed by the French government after failing to vote in favour of a ten-year plan for the territory. High Commissioner Claude Charbonniaud given executive power.[2]
A 10% electoral threshold was introduced for the elections, which was reported by Pacific Islands Monthly to mainly affect the prospects of indigenous and pro-independence parties.[2] As a result, the pro-independence Caledonian Union, Caledonian Socialist Party, Melanesian Progressive Union, Party of Kanak Liberation and United Front of Kanak Liberation formed the Independence Front.
| Constituency | Member | Party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East (7 seats) | François Burck | Independence Front (UC) | ||
| Yves de Villelongue | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| André Gopea | Independence Front (UPM) | Re-elected | ||
| Éloi Machoro | Independence Front (UC) | Re-elected | ||
| Auguste Parawi-Reybas | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| Francis Poadouy | Independence Front (PALIKA) | |||
| Jean-Marie Tjibaou | Independence Front (UC) | Re-elected | ||
| Islands (5 seats) | Nidoïsh Naisseline | Independence Front (PALIKA) | Re-elected | |
| Dick Ukeiwé | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| Yann Céléné Uregeï | Independence Front (FULK) | Re-elected | ||
| Édouard Wapaé | Independence Front (UC) | Re-elected | ||
| Yeiwéné Yeiwéné | Independence Front (UC) | Re-elected | ||
| South (17 seats) | Christian Boissery | Federation for a New Caledonian Society | ||
| Stanley Camerlynck | Federation for a New Caledonian Society | Re-elected (previously UNC in East) | ||
| Lionel Cherrier | Federation for a New Caledonian Society | |||
| André Caillard | Rally for Caledonia | |||
| René de Saint-Quentin | Rally for Caledonia | |||
| Georges Faure | Rally for Caledonia | |||
| Melito Finau | Federation for a New Caledonian Society | |||
| Max Frouin | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected (previously MLC) | ||
| Jacques Lafleur | Rally for Caledonia | |||
| Jean Lèques | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected (previously MLC) | ||
| Roger Laroque | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| Petelo Manuofiua | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| Gérald Meyer | Federation for a New Caledonian Society | |||
| Jacques Mouren | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| Rock Pidjot | Independence Front (UC) | Re-elected | ||
| Marie-Paule Serve | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| Jacques Violette | Independence Front (PSC) | Re-elected | ||
| West (7 seats) | Jean-Pierre Aïfa | Federation for a New Caledonian Society | Re-elected (previously UNC) | |
| Jean Delouvrier | Rally for Caledonia | Re-elected | ||
| Justin Guillemard | Rally for Caledonia | |||
| Gaston Morlet | Federation for a New Caledonian Society | Re-elected (previously UD | ||
| Gabriel Païta | Independence Front (UC) | Re-elected | ||
| Maurice Lenormand | Independence Front (UC) | Re-elected | ||
| Paul Napoarea | Independence Front (UC) | |||
| Source: Congress | ||||