New Caledonia has voted against independence from France in the second of three possible independence referendums. On the 4th of October, more than 53% of voters chose to remain in the French Republic. The first referendum was held in November 2018 and saw 56% of voters rejecting independence.

New Caledonians turned out to vote in high numbers, with 85% of eligible voters casting a ballot, all the while respecting constraints imposed by the current health crisis.

In Melbourne, this high participation rate was visible through the three days that were necessary to collect the proxies; a diplomat came from the consulate general of France in Sydney for that specific purpose!

A third referendum may take place by 2022, if requested by a third of the Congress of New Caledonia.