1979 New Caledonian legislative election

1979 New Caledonian legislative election

1 July 1979

All 36 seats in Congress 18 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– RPC Jacques Lafleur 40.24 15 +3 UC Jean-Marie Tjibaou 34.43 14 −2 FNSC Jean-Pierre Aïfa 17.82 7 New This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

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.

Background

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.

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. 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.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Rally for Caledonia	20,153	40.24	15	+3
	Independence Front (UC–PSC–UPM–Palika–FULK)	17,241	34.43	14	–2
	Federation for a New Caledonian Society	8,925	17.82	7	New
	Caledonian Socialist Federation	1,345	2.69	0	New
	Caledonian and Metropolitan Popular Rally	1,020	2.04	0	New
	Union of Wallisians and Futunians in Caledonia	560	1.12	0	New
	Caledonian Democrat Rally	544	1.09	0	New
	Union for French Democracy	294	0.59	0	New
Total		50,082	100.00	36	+1
Valid votes		50,082	99.13
Invalid/blank votes		442	0.87
Total votes		50,524	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		68,279	74.00
Source: Juridoc

Elected members

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