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French Pacific News In Brief
Patrick Decloitre, Correspondent French Pacific Desk
French Senate votes extended credit line for New Caledonia
The French Senate on Thursday approved an extended credit line of up to one billion Euros for New Caledonia.
The funds, which are part of France's 2025 appropriation bill, were initially a credit line of up to 500 million Euros, mainly in loans through the French Development Bank (Agence Française de Développement, AFD) to assist in the French Pacific territory's post-riots economic and social recovery.
Before the Bill is fully voted into Law, the other French parliament House, the National Assembly, is scheduled to vote on the same text during the first week of February 2025.
First motion of confidence against Bayrou: mixed votes among New Caledonia's MPs
The first motion of confidence against newly appointed French Prime Minister François Bayrou took place on 16 January 2025 at the National Assembly (Lower House) and it was defeated.
But it showed once again diverging views between the two MPs representing New Caledonia's constituency.
Among the 131 votes in favour of the motion was New Caledonia MP, Emmanuel Tjibaou, who registered in the Gauche Démocrate et Républicaine (Democrat and Republican Left) caucus.
The other MP for New Caledonia, Nicolas Metzdorf, who is registered in the Ensemble pour la République (Together for the Republic, right-wing) caucus, voted against the motion, therefore in support of the new prime minister.
Macron to deliver keynote address at Asia's premier defence summit
French President Emmanuel Macron will be the keynote speaker at this year's IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
He will deliver his speech on Friday 30 May to mark the opening of the 22nd edition of the Dialogue, which is Asia's premier defence summit."
The event brings together defence ministers, military leaders and senior defence officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, from across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond to discuss critical security and geopolitical challenges.
Macron also said during the same trip, he would take the opportunity to visit other Asia-Pacific countries.
More specifically on the Pacific region, Macron also said one of France's future "challenges" included to "speed up efforts" to "build a new strategy in New Caledonia and in French Polynesia."
As part of Macron's Indo-Pacific doctrine, French army and naval top brass have recently announced plans to deploy significant forces in the region later this year, including its only aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The multinational exercise codenamed "Clémenceau 25" would also involve allied forces from Australia, Japan and the United States.
An exercise in partnership with the US Navy is scheduled in the Philippines Sea, a diplomat said.
The Charles de Gaulle, which left its French base of Toulon in November 2024 for the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean with about three thousand crew members, is set to enter Pacific Ocean waters next month, starting with the Philippines, Manilla-based French Ambassador Marie Fontanelle announced on Friday.
New Caledonia's President steps down as mayor
New Caledonia's President Alcide Ponga has resigned as mayor of Kouaoua.
He has held that position since 2014 but was elected President of the government of New Caledonia on January 8.
Ponga remains a member of the Kouaoua's municipal council.
The new mayor is Patrick Hari.
20-hour power blackout on Mooera island
People on French Polynesia's Mooera island (near the main island of Tahiti) experienced a general power blackout for 20 hours on Wednesday, Tahiti time.
The failure generated massive disruptions on the island, including a decision to close all primary schools and kindergartens because of the repercussions on the water distribution systems.
Power was gradually restored after a team of workers from EDT (Electricité de Tahiti) was sent to the neighbouring island.
The cause of the incident was not immediately known.
French Polynesia's High Commissioner decorated by Macron
French Polynesia's High Commissioner Eric Spitz was made a Commander in the Order of the National Merit by French President Emmanuel Macron this week.
The official decoration ceremony, which took place at the French Presidential House (L'Elysée), followed his promotion by Presidential Decree on 7 June 2024.
Spitz had earlier been made an Officer in the Order of the Legion of Honour in 2023.
He took up his post as France's representative in French Polynesia on 26 September 2022.
Shot put, weightlifting Pacific Games medallist dies aged 82
New Caledonia's Martial Bone, a Pacific shot put and weightlifting Pacific Games medallist, died on Sunday 19 January aged 82.
Bone, originally from Lifou island (Loyalty Islands group), a former primary school teacher, was a dominant and well-known figure in the Pacific sports arena.
Between 1963 and 1987, he took part in eight Pacific Games and won a total of 15 medals.
"He was our most emblematic figure for almost three decades", New Caledonia's athletics federation wrote in a tribute.
Tahiti's turtle celebrates her 197th birthday
Tahiti's most famous turtle, named Te Ara Ui, was the centre of attention last weekend in Tahiti as she celebrated her 197th birthday.
A long-time resident at Tahiti's Botanical Garden of Papeari, the 200-kilo turtle was treated with large quantities of her favourite fruit, pawpaw, a 197 figure-shaped candle and even a crown, local media reports.
Initially captured in the Galapagos Islands by a US-led expedition, she was part of a couple.
Te Ara Ui and her male companion, named Ara tau, were brought to Tahiti in October 1929.
However, Ara tau died in 2018 after being inflicted severe wounds by a group of dogs.
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