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] Caledonian Union reduced from the 22 seats it won in 1967 to only 12.[ 2]
Background
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]
Campaign
Nine parties contested the elections, with eleven lists running in the South constituency covering Nouméa .[ 3] [ 2]
Results
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.
Elected members
Aftermath
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 .[ 5]
Georges Chatenay resigned from the Assembly in March 1974 and was replaced by Joseph Tidjine .[ 6] Evenor de Greslan .[ 7]
References
^ a b Caledonian politball: Hearing up for final Pacific Islands Monthly , August 1972, p30^ a b Caledonians say a careful 'no' to the autonomists Pacific Islands Monthly , October 1972, p27^ Governor dons sporting gear for New Caledonia's election game Pacific Islands Monthly , September 1972, p17^ Jean Le Borgne (2005) Nouvelle-Calédonie, 1945-1968: la confiance trahie , Harmattan, p536
^ The game is anything but cricket in New Caledonia Pacific Islands Monthly , May 1973, p26^ A 'deceived' Chatenay bows out of Caledonian politics Pacific Islands Monthly , May 1974, p10^ Another Caledonian MP resigns Pacific Islands Monthly , August 1974, p3
