1958 New Caledonian legislative election

Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 7 December 1958. The result was a victory for the Caledonian Union, which won 18 of the 30 seats.[1]

Background

The 1957 elections, the first held under universal suffrage, had been won by the left-wing Caledonian Union, which subsequently formed a government led by Maurice Lenormand.

On 18 June 1958 a protest march was led by right-wing opposition CNRS leader Georges Chatenay, who claimed elections held under universal suffrage were unfair and the new government was placing a financial burden on property owners.[2] Over the next three days, armed members of the CNRS set up roadblocks and detained Assembly members. Supporters of Lenormand attempted to hold a demonstration in Nouméa on 21 June, but were banned from doing so by Governor Aimé Grimald.[2]

Lenormand and his cabinet were subsequently dismissed by Grimald, who took on executive powers.[2]

Electoral system

The 30 members of the Territorial Assembly were elected by open list proportional representation,[3] the same electoral system as used in the 1957 elections.[4]

Results

Voter turnout was around 73%, up 10 percentage points on the previous elections.[1]

PartySeats+/–
Caledonian Union180
Caledonian Rally11New
Republican Union1New
Total300
Source: Le Borgne[5]

Elected members

Constituency Member Party Notes
East (7 seats)Antoine GriscelliCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Thomas HagenCaledonian RallyRe-elected
René LeroyCaledonian UnionElected
Kiolet Néa GaletCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Émile Wénou NécheroCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Toutou Tiapi PimbéCaledonian UnionElected
Augustin Dalap TouyadaCaledonian UnionElected
Islands (5 seats)Pierre IssamatroCaledonian UnionElected
Paul KatreiCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Michel KaumaCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Henri NaisselineCaledonian RallyRe-elected
Dick UkeiwéCaledonian UnionRe-elected
South (10 seats)Bernard BrouCaledonian RallyRe-elected
Edmond CaillardCaledonian RallyRe-elected
Georges ChatenayCaledonian RallyRe-elected
Henri LafleurCaledonian RallyRe-elected
Jean Le BorgneCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Gabriel MussotRepublican UnionRe-elected
Armand OhlenCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Claude ParazolsCaledonian RallyElected
Rock PidjotCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Albert RapadziCaledonian RallyRe-elected
West (8 seats)Lucien AllardCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Marcel BordesCaledonian RallyRe-elected
Louis GoyetcheCaledonian RallyElected
René HéninCaledonian RallyRe-elected
Maurice LenormandCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Georges NagleCaledonian UnionElected
Gabriel PaïtaCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Théophile Wakolo PouyéCaledonian UnionRe-elected
Source: Le Borgne[5]

Aftermath

Following the elections, Lenormand formed an eight-member government, offering two of the portfolios to the opposition.[1]

After Henri Lafleur was elected to the French Senate in 1959, he was replaced by Roger Pêne. When Rock Pidjot and Jean Le Borgne were appointed as ministers, they were replaced by Évenor de Greslan and Gope-Laguise Iekawé.[6] Dick Ukeiwé resigned from the Congress on 30 May 1961 and was replaced by Wandrerine Wainebengo who was next on the party's list.[6]

Following the death of Toutou Tiapi Pimbé on 3 July 1961, he was replaced by Cidopua.[6]

References

  1. Same System, Mixed Result: Common Roll Use In Elections In French Pacific Territories Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1959, p14
  2. Governor's Action Saves N. Caledonia From Civil War Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1958, pp17–18, 145–147
  3. New Governing Body for New Caledonia Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1957, p164
  4. New Caledonia Goes To The Polls Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1958, p131
  5. Jean Le Borgne (2005) Nouvelle-Calédonie, 1945-1968: la confiance trahie, Harmattan, p228
  6. La composition Congress of New Caledonia
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