Polling stations close in New Caledonia provincial elections

New Caledonia has concluded its provincial elections, with polling stations closing Sunday after a day of voting that marks the first electoral exercise in the French territory in seven years.

The elections were abandoned in 2024 due to widespread riots that resulted in 14 deaths and approximately €2.2 billion in economic damage. This history has led to a significant security presence for Sunday's vote, with around 2,500 law enforcement officers, including police, gendarmes, and members of the French anti-crime squad and judiciary police, deployed to monitor polling stations and their surroundings.

Despite the heavy security, election officials reported no incidents during the polling. Voters cast their ballots throughout the day, with many choosing to vote after Sunday mass or just before the stations closed, allowing them to stay and observe the vote counting process. Preliminary results are anticipated between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM local time.

A total of 192,584 people were registered to vote in these elections. The outcome of these elections is crucial for the future political landscape of the French territory, which has experienced significant social and political unrest in recent years.