In Nouméa on 23 May, President Emmanuel Macron told elected representatives from the archipelago that ‘appeasement’ could not be achieved by going back on the results of the three referendums recently held in New Caledonia

More than a week after the start of the riots, he visited the island to plead for a ‘constructive appeasement’. He stressed that the search for a political solution must respect the fact that New Caledonia remains part of the Republic, as confirmed by the referendums.

‘Appeasement cannot mean going backwards or disregarding the popular expression that has already been made,’ insisted Macron

Addressing local elected representatives, he added that ‘appeasement cannot mean denying the progress already made’. Despite the riots, Macron stressed the need to bring together all the stakeholders to engage in dialogue.

With regard to the state of emergency, Macron expressed reservations about extending it beyond 27 May, which would require legislation. However, he made it clear that the security forces would remain deployed for as long as necessary, even during the Paris Olympics.

The president stressed the importance of dialogue in resolving the crisis and said that the state of emergency will only be lifted when all parties assume their responsibilities by lifting the blockades, a situation that remained unresolved at the time of his speech.