France backs controversial New Caledonia vote changes amid continued unrest

Plan to expand electoral roll gets the go-ahead as New Caledonia is rocked by worst unrest in more than 30 years.

France has adopted controversial reforms to New Caledonia’s voting rules, which have led to the worst unrest in the Pacific territory in more than 30 years.

The administration in New Caledonia said that more than 130 people had been arrested in rioting, which began on Monday night with cars and buildings set alight and shops looted.

The “serious disturbances” were continuing, the High Commission of the Republic in New Caledonia said in a statement on Wednesday morning, adding that a night-time curfew and a ban on public gatherings would remain in force.

An attempted prison breakout was also foiled, it added.

Anger has been simmering for weeks over plans in Paris to change the constitution to allow more people to vote in New Caledonia’s provincial elections. Critics say the move would marginalise the Indigenous Kanak people, who make up about 40 percent of the population, by allowing more recent European arrivals to vote.