what’s electoral reform? | EUROtoday

New Caledonia is at the moment experiencing its most severe tensions for the reason that Eighties. And one of many foremost issues is similar as forty years in the past: the selection of who can vote to resolve the way forward for the territory.

The archipelago, French since 1853, is split between two camps: the loyalists, who need New Caledonia to stay French, and the separatists on the opposite. This opposition led to years of violence, notably between 1984 and 1988. A quasi-civil struggle which led to the signing of historic agreements: these of Matignon in 1988, then these of Nouméa ten years later.

In these agreements, it was notably determined that solely Kanaks and long-time residents might vote in sure elections and referendums. This is known as the particular electoral physique, which continues to be in pressure as we speak. In this video, we clarify to you why how this electoral physique works, and why its reform is problematic as we speak.