New Caledonia votes on whether to stay part of France

By CHARLOTTE ANTOINE-PERRON
Associated Press

NOUMEA, New Caledonia (AP) — Voters in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia voted overwhelmingly Sunday to stay part of France in an independence referendum marred by a boycott from separatist forces. They had called for the vote to be delayed because of the pandemic and were angry over what they said were government efforts to sway the campaign. Partial results showed 91% of voters favored staying in France. Turnout was just 41%. The referendum was the third and last in a decades-long decolonization effort. Keeping New Caledonia is important for French geopolitical ambitions in Indo-Pacific, and the vote was closely watched amid growing Chinese influence in the region.