Pro-independence president

New Caledonia has elected its first pro-independence Kanak president. Louis Mapou was elected yesterday in Noumea after months of negotiations between the two main proindependence Kanak political groupings UNI and UC FLNKS. Journalist Nic Maclellan a longtime writer on New Caledonian politics says Louis Mapou’s presidency comes at a crucial time for New Caledonia. “The French government unilaterally has set the date of the 12th of December this year for the next referendum on self-determination,” he explained. The referendum in December is the third and final plebiscite under the Noumea Accord. The results of the last two polls have been narrowly in favour of remaining with France.