New Caledonia gets 1st leader in favor of split from France

The New Caledonia government has elected the first pro-independence figure as president of the South Pacific archipelago, a French territory that won broad autonomy more than two decades ago

NOUMEA, New Caledonia -- The New Caledonia government elected Thursday the first pro-independence figure as president of the South Pacific archipelago, a French territory that won broad autonomy following violence in 1988 and is scheduled to hold an independence referendum in five months. Louis Mapou, a member of New Caledonia's indigenous Kanak population, received six of 11 government votes, while French loyalist Thierry Santa got four. One ballot was returned blank. Mapou, 62, is a member of the Party of Kanak Liberation, or Palika, and the head of the National Union for Independence. “We’re going to work hard. New Caledonia needs it,” Mapou said after the vote. “Many think that we’ll have difficulty working for everyone, but I can guarantee you that working for New Caledonia will be the watchword of our commitment.”