1984 New Caledonian legislative election explained

Country:New Caledonia
Type:parliamentary
Election Date:18 November 1984
Previous Election:1979
Next Election:1985
Seats For Election:All 36 seats in Congress
Majority Seats:18
Party1:RPCR
Leader1:Jacques Lafleur
Last Election1:15
Seats1:34
Percentage1:70.87
Party2:Kanak Socialist Liberation
Leader2:Nidoïsh Naisseline
Last Election2:New
Seats2:6
Percentage2:7.33
Party3:National Front
Leader3:Roger Galliot
Last Election3:New
Seats3:1
Percentage3:6.05
Party4:FNSC
Leader4:Jean-Pierre Aïfa
Last Election4:7
Seats4:1
Percentage4:4.45
President of Congress
Before Election:Jean Pierre-Aïfa
Before Party:FNSC
After Election:Dick Ukeiwé
After Party:RPCR

Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 18 November 1984. They had originally been planned for July, but were postponed due to threats by the Independence Front to boycott and disrupt the vote.[1] Most members of the Front subsequently merged into the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front in September,[2] and proceeded to boycott the elections. As a result, the Rally for Caledonia in the Republic won 34 of the 42 seats in a landslide victory. Following the elections, Dick Ukeiwé became President of the Government.

Conduct

The elections were marred by violence; several houses, town halls and shops were set on fire, with FLNKS members clashing with security forces. FLNKS also took a French administrator hostage on Lifou Island and occupied a police station in north-east of the territory.[3] On election day 200 Kanaks entered a polling station in Canala and destroyed ballot papers.[3]

Results

Overall voter turnout was just over 50%, but estimated to be only 15% amongst the Kanak community.[3]

Elected members

ConstituencyMemberPartyNotes
East (9 seats)Jules AteRally for Caledonia
Félix BelleRally for Caledonia
Roger GalliotNational Front
Jacques MainguetRally for Caledonia
Auguste Parawi-ReybasRally for CaledoniaRe-elected
Mathias NecheroKanak Socialist Liberation
Maurice NénouRally for Caledonia
Francis PoadouyKanak Socialist LiberationRe-elected
Henri WettaRally for Caledonia
Islands (7 seats)Basile CitréKanak Socialist Liberation
Jacques LaliéKanak Socialist Liberation
Nidoïsh NaisselineKanak Socialist LiberationRe-elected
Robert Naxue PaoutaRally for Caledonia
William TrongadjoKanak Socialist Liberation
Simijane YeiwieRally for Caledonia
Goïne Ferdinand WamoRally for Caledonia
South (17 seats)Victorin BoewaRally for Caledonia
Jean-Claude BriaultRally for Caledonia
Françoise ChaverotRally for Caledonia
Albert EtuvéRally for Caledonia
Georges FaureRally for CaledoniaRe-elected
Max FrouinRally for CaledoniaRe-elected
Justin GuillemardRally for CaledoniaRe-elected (previously in West)
Wassissi KapuaRally for Caledonia
Daniel LabordeRally for Caledonia
Jacques LafleurRally for CaledoniaRe-elected
Henri LeleuRally for Caledonia
Jean LèquesRally for CaledoniaRe-elected
Philippa Ma-MoonRally for Caledonia
Claude LemaîtreRally for Caledonia
Harold MartinRally for Caledonia
Patrice MullerRally for Caledonia
Atélémo TaofifenuaRally for Caledonia
West (9 seats)Jean-Pierre AïfaFederation for a New Caledonian SocietyRe-elected
Robert FrouinRally for Caledonia
Jean GuindonRally for Caledonia
Sosimo MalaluaRally for Caledonia
Michaël Meunier-MalignonRally for Caledonia
Robert SaggioRally for Caledonia
Apou ThidjiteRally for Caledonia
Dick UkeiwéRally for CaledoniaRe-elected (previously in Islands)
Naco VoudjoRally for Caledonia

Aftermath

Violence continued after the elections; FLNKS members occupied the police station in Thio on 20 November and held five policemen hostage. Rebels set up a 'Government of Kanaky' in early December, headed by Jean-Marie Tjibaou. European settlers in Hienghène killed ten FLNKS militants on 5 December, including two brothers of Tjibaou.[3]

Dick Ukeiwé became President of the Government, heading a ten-member cabinet.[4]

PositionMember
President of the GovernmentDick Ukeiwé
Minister of AgricultureMichel Kauma
Minister of CultureJoseph Tidjine
Minister of Economy and FinancesPierre Frogier
Minister of EducationDelin Wéma
Minister of Health and Social AffairsPierre Maresca
Minister of LabourDenis Milliard
Minister of Natural ResourcesYves Magnier
Minister of Tourism, Transport and CommunicationsCharles Lavoix
Minister of Youth and SportGoïne Wamo

Notes and References

  1. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339553190/view?partId=nla.obj-339605185#page/n25/mode/1up Waiting for the 'unblocking'
  2. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339599674/view?partId=nla.obj-339617619#page/n27/mode/1up 131 years on, the FLKNKS
  3. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334941320/view?partId=nla.obj-335068196#page/n13/mode/1up French scramble to head off crisis
  4. https://juridoc.gouv.nc/juridoc/jdwebe.nsf/joncentry?openpage&ap=1984&page=2049 Actes du Gouernement du Territoire