Before the National Assembly's law committee, Overseas Territories Minister Naïma Moutchou acknowledged the failure of an expert mission to New Caledonia. She delayed plans for an early consultation of New Caledonians set for March 2026. The measure aims to bolster the Bougival agreement, which faces opposition from various political groups.
On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, during a hearing before the National Assembly's law committee, Overseas Territories Minister Naïma Moutchou discussed progress on the Bougival agreement for New Caledonia. She stated she had 'taken note' of the failure of the expert mission sent to Nouméa to advance the deal signed on July 12 between independentists and non-independentists.
'The Congress of New Caledonia gave a favorable opinion, shared […] I would even say fragmented. It now falls to the political forces to tell us what they want to do,' she explained, signaling a pause in the process. The anticipated consultation of New Caledonians, planned for March 15, 2026, alongside the first round of municipal elections, is legally fragile and politically contested. In Nouméa and Paris, including in Parliament where socialists and centrists voiced strong reservations, the initiative faces opposition.
The Bougival agreement, aimed at outlining New Caledonia's state project, is rejected by the Front de libération nationale kanak et socialiste (FLNKS). Other signatories call for substantial amendments. Moreover, the constitutional law project intended to ratify the agreement by the end of 2025 appears unattainable due to a lack of parliamentary majority. This situation highlights ongoing tensions over the territory's future status.
