[ad_1]
Should the provincial elections be maintained or postponed? This weekend, the question was raised again by different political parties: Building in different ways, Palika and Caledonia together. In the context of the Caledonia rebellion and in the national political arena without an absolute majority, what does the law say?
In late January 2024, government spokesperson Prisca Thévenot announced the executive branch’s decision to postpone the provincial elections from May 2024 to December 15, 2024.
This is the first time a provincial election in Caledonia has been postponed, as documented by MPs:
Doubt about saving this calendar
Before Dissolve the National Assembly, Senators cast doubt on the holding of provincial elections on December 15. Socialist Senator Corinne Narassiguin on trial December is already too close and proposes to postpone the provincial elections until November 30, 2025 at the latest. Postponing it by another year is to give as much time as possible to find consensus between Caledonian politicians and the government of the country.
“It will be a feat if we can successfully organize the provincial competition on December 15.”
Philippe Bas (LR), Chairman of the Senate Legal Committee
The riots of 13 May and their disastrous consequences on the social, health and economic levels have disrupted the priorities of New Caledonians.
The uprising against the thawing of the electoral apparatus was superimposed on the national political earthquake that occurred on June 9 with the dissolution of the National Assembly and the expected legislative elections.
result : A central government in charge of current affairs, which does not have a majority of seats a few days before the 2024 Paris Olympics, would usher in the “political truce” desired by the President of the Republic. The Caledonian issue seems far from national attention.
How do these events reshuffle the political game? What are the positions of the various New Caledonian parties?
- Build in a Different WayIn a speech at the Calé do Livres bookstore on July 19, the movement’s president, Joël Kasarhérou, called for the preservation of the provincial system. He is overwhelmed by the disastrous situation in New Caledonia. He called on elected politicians to “Awareness was quickly raised through budgetary policy, and Paris responded to the food, health and economic emergency through monetary policy.”
There is a window until December 15th during which we can organize provincial (elections). Let’s form a very strict government for less than two years and have a hundred days to carry out structural reforms.
Also read: “We are facing a food emergency, indeed a humanitarian emergency”
- leftoverThe Extraordinary Congress of the Palika was held in La Foa on July 20 this year. Spokesperson Judikar Selefin declared that the party is pragmatic and wants to respect the timetable for organizing these elections. The vote will probably be based on the provincial electoral body, which will not change, as no amendments have been made so far.
The meeting voted to postpone the elections. Today it was imposed on us again. If no other decision is made to the contrary, the provincial elections will be held no later than December 15.
READ ALSO : Palika chooses to hold provincial elections from now until December, with voter freeze
- Caledonia Together. On July 21 of this year, the party’s co-founder, Phiippe Gomès, was invited to an interview with the television news Sunday Politics, in which he expressed his frustration at the current social emergency and its disastrous impact on the daily lives of Caledonians.
The topic is not the sub-provincials! When we talk about partition or provincial elections, we do not realize the social tsunami that awaits us and will bury us. New Caledonia is sinking. The family will no longer have food to eat!
If this timetable cannot be met, a law will have to be urgently amended within a few months to once again postpone provincial elections, a scenario envisaged by the Constitution.
The postponement of elections must be the subject of an organic law of the State, which itself must be submitted to the Constitutional Council. Examples and case law are numerous, such as in New Caledonia and France.
Although uncommon, postponement of elections is generally accepted as long as it does not disregard constitutional principles and is appropriate to the objectives being pursued.
Zérah Brémond – Lecturer in Public Law (University of Pau)
Against a backdrop of chaotic politics at the national and local levels, New Caledonia is a country under curfew, bleeding a budget and mired in a deep economic recession:
- Will this situation lead to further postponement of provincial competitions?
- Does the lack of discussion with the central government limited to current events have an impact?
- Most importantly, could the failure to convene the Versailles Congress, which would decide on constitutional reforms that would unfreeze the electorate and be adopted by the Senate and the National Assembly, lead to a second modification of the provincial calendar?
The Constitutional Council considers the Organic Law of April 15, 2024 to be in compliance. However, he noted that the seven-month delay is exceptional and transitional.
The composition of the new National Assembly and the expectations of the new government (whose future political color we still do not know) further increase uncertainty… Gabriel Attal’s government deals with current events and emergencies. He may not be able to propose a further postponement.
[ad_2]
Source link
