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for the first day of his visit to New Caledonia, Manuel Valls has faced, Friday, April 29, the two most sensitive issues in archipelago: the future political and institutional Caledonian – so that a referendum on independence “Caillou” is to be held before November 2018 – and the economic crisis nickel, financial and real local social lung
<. p> in front of the Congress of New Caledonia, which brings together all the island political forces, the Prime Minister was careful, however, Friday morning, to take a stand on behalf of the French state on the institutional future of this community overseas that already enjoys a special legal status for the Noumea accords signed in 1998.
But the Caledonian political situation greatly threatens the referendum and to the organization itself said. Kanak independence forces and loyalists are divided, even within each camp. Considering the results of the last provincial polls, non-independence majority in the archipelago, and many fear that a possible rejection of independence in 2018 will again cut the island in half and raise tensions between communities.
“the Rocard method”
In this context, the Prime Minister recalled that “time is short, in November 2018 it was already tomorrow” . If Mr. Valls ensures that “the state will fulfill its role” in view of the referendum, he especially invited all stakeholders to prepare Caledonians already post, whatever the result of the popular consultation. “Everybody knows, everybody says, everybody calls the state. But everyone is prepared to take some risk it deserves? To exceed the bounds of its short-term interests? To deploy the pedagogy required to kill any temptation to pedagogy? “, has he asked.
Availing itself of ” The Rocard method “, his political mentor and the artisan as prime minister, the agreements Matignon in 1988, Mr. Valls, accompanied by his advisor Yves Colmou, former collaborator of Michel Rocard at the time, advocated “compromise rebalancing” and “consensus building” between separatists and not independence. “Those who have had the courage to outstretched hand were always recognized ultimately by voters’ , he said, referring to the former non-independence MP Jacques Lafleur and the former leader Kanak Tjibaou, the two fathers of the 1988 agreements on the graves which he had to collect during his visit.
Twenty-five years after the “events” and community violence Caldoches and between Kanaks, the Prime Minister refusing the debate on the institutional future Caledonian only awakens the ancient hatreds. Above all, he wants the presidential and legislative elections in 2017 will come to pollute the political climate on the Stone. “Do not play the shows! It is unclear what will happen in 2017, but do not imagine that this or that change, if change could come to the aid of a given thesis “ Has -he warned. Several elected party Republicans are betting indeed a victory of the right in 2017 to prevent the referendum and encourage the status quo.
“You have to depoliticize the Caledonian dossier”
the case turns into headache for the government, which wants to meet in Paris a new committee of the signatories of the Nouméa arrangements “before the end of the year” . In private, Mr. Valls acknowledges that the hypothesis of a new agreement to give time to each party is impossible. “The separatists do not agree and require compliance with the 1998 agreements” , he said. “You have to depoliticize the Caledonian file and ensure that no one feels humiliated and that everyone has a place in the referendum to be held whatever happens” , decrypts its entourage at Matignon.
a few hours later, the Prime Minister also spoke about the particularly worrying situation in the New Caledonia through the economic crisis in its nickel industry, the main purveyor local jobs. It was another milestone moving the head of government, particularly awaited by industry leaders, but also by the trade unions and employees. Due to a very low during the past several months, the Caledonian nickel industry is facing serious difficulties. “Yes, the situation is serious, yes, the nickel industry is more than ever fragile” , found Mr Valls.
He urged everyone to ” make efforts “ to avoid social plans. Visiting the centenary of the Company factory Le Nickel (SLN), in the district Doniambo, real steel town in the city of Noumea, he pointed duties of its shareholders. “They received dividends when nickel prices were at their highest, they must take their responsibilities in ensuring the cash the company now that they are at the lowest” , a-t- he said.
While Eramet, parent of the SLN, in which the french state is a shareholder, has already released 150 million euros, Mr. Valls has asked the other shareholder , STCPI, entity that brings together the three territorial Caledonian provinces, also to hand the portfolio to “cover through 2018 and spend the funding crisis needs’ . The Prime Minister proposed to STCPI a state support in the form of a loan, “that could go up to 200 million euros” , and is committed to that Paris “can make a guarantee on bank financing” a new plant in Doniambo, the current must be “imperatively replaced in 2020″ .
to the Prime Minister, political future and economic future of New Caledonia are intertwined. But in both cases, time is short. “The institutional future and the future of nickel will play in the coming months” , alerted Mr. Valls.
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