French Matignon Accords referendum, 1988

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A referendum on the Matignon Accords on New Caledonia was held in France on 6 November 1988. [1] The accords were approved by 80% of voters, although turnout was just 36.9%. [2] In New Caledonia it was approved by 57% of voters. [3]

The Matignon Agreements were agreements signed in the Hôtel Matignon by Jean-Marie Tjibaou and Jacques Lafleur on 26 June 1988 between loyalists who wanted to keep New Caledonia as a part of the French Fifth Republic, and separatists, who did not. The agreements were arranged under the aegis of the Government of France as a result of discussions and compromises arranged by Christian Blanc, the negoiator for Michel Rocard's government.

New Caledonia Overseas territory of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean

New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, located to the south of Vanuatu, about 1,210 km (750 mi) east of Australia and 20,000 km (12,000 mi) from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and a few remote islets. The Chesterfield Islands are in the Coral Sea. Locals refer to Grande Terre as Le Caillou.

France Republic with mainland in Europe and numerous oversea territories

France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the east, and Andorra and Spain to the south. The overseas territories include French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The country's 18 integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres (248,573 sq mi) and a total population of 67.3 million. France, a sovereign state, is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. Other major urban areas include Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice.

Results

Choice Metropolitan France New Caledonia Total
Votes%Votes%Votes%
For9,714,68980.029,28657.09,896,49880.0
Against2,428,08920.022,06643.02,474,54820.0
Invalid/blank votes1,638,8034,5841,657,659
Total13,781,58110055,93610014,028,705100
Registered voters/turnout36,897,05237.488,26263.3738,025,82336.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Constitutional Council, Direct Democracy

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References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p674 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Décision Résultats référendum 1988 du 09 novembre 1988 Constitutional Council
  3. France, 6 November 1988: New Caledonian Statute Direct Democracy (in German)