Roch or Rock Wamytan (born 13 December 1950) is a Kanak politician from New Caledonia. He served as President of the Congress of New Caledonia from May 2019 to August 2024,having previously been in the position from 2011 to 2012,and from 2013 to 2014. [1] He was also president of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front. [2]
New Caledonia is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean,220 km (140 mi) southwest of Vanuatu and 1,210 km (750 mi) east of Australia. Located 16,100 km (10,000 mi) from Metropolitan France,it forms a sui generis collectivity of the French Republic,a legal status unique in overseas France and enshrined in a dedicated chapter of the French Constitution.
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front is a pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various political parties. Its supporters are mostly from the Kanak indigenous population but also include supporters from other ethnic communities.
The Caledonian Union is a pro-independence and the oldest political party in New Caledonia. In the latest legislative elections of May 10,2009,the party won around 11.65% of the popular vote,and 9 out of 54 seats in the Territorial Congress.
The Nouméa Accord of 1998 is a promise by the French Republic to grant increased political power to New Caledonia and its indigenous population,the Kanaks,over a twenty-year transition period. It was signed 5 May 1998 by Lionel Jospin,and approved in a referendum in New Caledonia on 8 November,with 72% voting in favour. Under the accord,three more referendum votes,on whether to remain a special collectivity of France or become an independent state,have been held.
Two flags are in use in New Caledonia,an overseas territory of France. Up to 2010,the only flag used to represent New Caledonia was the flag of France,a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured blue,white,and red known to English speakers as the French Tricolour or simply the Tricolour. However,in July 2010,the Congress of New Caledonia voted in favour of a wish to fly the Kanak flag of the independence movement FLNKS alongside the French Tricolour. The wish,legally non-binding,proved controversial. A majority of New Caledonian communes,but not all,now fly both flags,the rest flying only the French Tricolour.
Dick Ukeiwé was a New Caledonian politician. Born in Lifou,France,he represented the island in the French Senate from 1983 until 1992,and was a member of the Rally for the Republic. He served as President of the Congress of New Caledonia from 1985 to 1988. His son,Bernard Ukeiwé(1953–2008),was also a New Caledonian politician. Ukeiwédied,aged 84,on 3 September 2013 in Dumbéa.
Charles 'Charly' Pidjot was a pro-independence politician from New Caledonia who was a member of the Kanak people. He was born in the community of Conceptions in Le Mont-Dore (New-Caledonia) and was the president of the Caledonian Union from 8 November 2007 to his death.
This article lists the presidents of the Congress of New Caledonia since 1985. The President serves as the head,or speaker,of the Congress of New Caledonia.
Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 11 May 2014. The result was a victory for the three anti-independence parties,which together won 29 of the 54 seats in the Congress of New Caledonia.
The Kanaks are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia,an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. Kanak peoples traditionally speak diverse Austronesian languages that belong to the New Caledonian branch of Oceanic. According to the 2019 census,the Kanaks make up 41.2% of New Caledonia's total population –corresponding to around 112,000 people. The other populations are the Caldoche,who are European born in New Caledonia;the Zoreille,who were born in metropolitan France and live in New Caledonia,in addition to about 10% that are non-Kanak Polynesians and 10% that are mixed race.
An independence referendum was held in New Caledonia on 4 November 2018. Voters were given the choice of remaining part of France or becoming an independent country.
An independence referendum was held in New Caledonia on 4 October 2020. The poll was the second to be held under the terms of the Nouméa Accord,following a similar referendum in 2018.
Events from 2020 in New Caledonia.
An independence referendum was held in New Caledonia,a French territory in the South Pacific,on 12 December 2021. The vote was the third and final one to be held under the terms of the Nouméa Accord,following votes in 2018 and 2020.
Caroline Machoro-Reignier is a Kanak politician in New Caledonia. A member of the pro-independence Caledonian Union,she led the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front alliance in the Congress of New Caledonia from 2011 to 2014. In 1988,she was one of the signatories of the Matignon Agreements between New Caledonian loyalists and separatists.
Events from 2022 in New Caledonia.
Virginie Ruffenach is a politician from New Caledonia. She is a member of The Rally and the chairperson of the Future with Confidence alliance in the Congress of New Caledonia.
Events from 2023 in New Caledonia.
Events from 2024 in New Caledonia.
Veylma Falaeo is a New Caledonian politician serving as the President of the Congress of New Caledonia since August 2024. A member of the centrist Oceanian Awakening party,she is the first woman to be president of the congress.
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