Rally for Caledonia
Encyclopedia
The Rally for Caledonia is a Gaullist political party
in New Caledonia
, strongly supportive of the French
status of the region; it is close to the French Union for a Popular Movement
.
had been the historical leader of the right-wing anti-independence Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
(RPCR) since the party's creation in 1977. However, in 2005, Lafleur announced his intentions to step down in favour of Pierre Frogier
, who represented New Caledonia's 2nd constituency
and was a close supporter of the President of the UMP in France, now-President Nicolas Sarkozy
. Frogier was seen as Lafleur's chosen successor. However, he came back on this decision and ran against Frogier for the RPCR leadership at the party congress. Frogier defeated Lafleur by a large margin.
In January 2006, Lafleur announced the creation of a new political newspaper in New Caledonia
, the Bulletin d'Information. In the April 2006 edition of the paper, he announced the creation of a new party, which would take the original name of the RPCR, the Rally for Caledonia. He criticized the RPCR for being a "small Rally" as opposed to a "large Rally". Senator Simon Loueckhote
soon joined the RPC.
In the New Caledonia's 1st constituency
, Lafleur's constituency, Lafleur was defeated by the first round of the French legislative election, 2007
by a number of candidates, most notably the RPCR's Gaël Yanno
. Yanno went on to win the seat in an easy runoff.
With Lafleur's defeat, the RPC's only parliamentarian was the island's sole Senator, the anti-independence Kanak Simon Loueckhote
. However, Loueckhote left the RPC in April 2008 to found his own party, the Movement for Diversity
.
In the 2009 election
, the RPC obtained 4.46% and only one seat in the Congress of New Caledonia.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, strongly supportive of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
status of the region; it is close to the French Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
.
History
Jacques LafleurJacques Lafleur
Jacques Lafleur was a French politician born in Nouméa, New Caledonia.Lafleur was a onetime leader of one of the two anti-independence parties in New Caledonia, the RPCR . He was a signatory to the Matignon Accords in 1988 and the Nouméa Accord in 1998...
had been the historical leader of the right-wing anti-independence Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
The The Rally–UMP is a conservative political party in New Caledonia, strongly supportive of the French status of the region; it is affiliated with the French Union for a Popular Movement.-History:...
(RPCR) since the party's creation in 1977. However, in 2005, Lafleur announced his intentions to step down in favour of Pierre Frogier
Pierre Frogier
Pierre Frogier is a French politician, who was President of the Government of New Caledonia from 2001 to 2004.He was born in Nouméa....
, who represented New Caledonia's 2nd constituency
New Caledonia's 2nd constituency
The 2nd constituency of New Caledonia is a French legislative constituency in New Caledonia.The second constituency was created in a redistricting in 1978. Between 1978 and a new redistricting in 1986, the second constituency represented the ethnically diverse western shore of the main island, but...
and was a close supporter of the President of the UMP in France, now-President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
. Frogier was seen as Lafleur's chosen successor. However, he came back on this decision and ran against Frogier for the RPCR leadership at the party congress. Frogier defeated Lafleur by a large margin.
In January 2006, Lafleur announced the creation of a new political newspaper in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, the Bulletin d'Information. In the April 2006 edition of the paper, he announced the creation of a new party, which would take the original name of the RPCR, the Rally for Caledonia. He criticized the RPCR for being a "small Rally" as opposed to a "large Rally". Senator Simon Loueckhote
Simon Loueckhote
Simon Loueckhote is a member of the Senate of France, representing the island of New Caledonia. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement....
soon joined the RPC.
In the New Caledonia's 1st constituency
New Caledonia's 1st constituency
The 1st constituency of New Caledonia is a French legislative constituency in New Caledonia.Between 1958 and 1962, the constituency represented the entirety of the New Hebrides condominium and the constituency represented the entirety of New Caledonia until a redistricting in 1978 created the 2nd...
, Lafleur's constituency, Lafleur was defeated by the first round of the French legislative election, 2007
French legislative election, 2007
The French legislative elections took place on 10 June and 17 June 2007 to elect the 13th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic, a few weeks after the French presidential election run-off on 6 May. 7,639 candidates stood for 577 seats, including France's overseas possessions...
by a number of candidates, most notably the RPCR's Gaël Yanno
Gaël Yanno
Gaël Yanno is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the island of New Caledonia, with Pierre Frogier, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. He is a member of the commission of finance, general economy and budgetary control. He has been elected in June,...
. Yanno went on to win the seat in an easy runoff.
With Lafleur's defeat, the RPC's only parliamentarian was the island's sole Senator, the anti-independence Kanak Simon Loueckhote
Simon Loueckhote
Simon Loueckhote is a member of the Senate of France, representing the island of New Caledonia. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement....
. However, Loueckhote left the RPC in April 2008 to found his own party, the Movement for Diversity
Movement for Diversity
The Movement for Diversity is a right-wing political party in New Caledonia, strongly supportive of the French status of the region; it is close to the French Union for a Popular Movement.-History:...
.
In the 2009 election
New Caledonian legislative election, 2009
Parliamentary elections were held in New Caledonia on 10 May 2009. Voters in New Caledonia chose 76 candidates for the French territory's three provincial assemblies. Fifty-four of these 76 members were also to become members of the Congress of New Caledonia...
, the RPC obtained 4.46% and only one seat in the Congress of New Caledonia.