1972 New Caledonian legislative election

Prior to the elections, the Caledonian Union (UC) held 12 seats in the 35-member Territorial Assembly, the Caledonian Liberal Movement (a breakaway from the UC) seven, the Democratic Union five, the Multi-Racial Union four, the Democratic and Social Agreement four, the Association of French Caledonians and Loyalists one, the Civic Union one and the Caledonian Popular Movement one.[1]

Nine parties contested the elections, with eleven lists running in the South constituency covering Nouméa.[3][2]

Pro-autonomy parties (the Caledonian Union and Multi-Racial Union) won seventeen seats, with anti-autonomist parties (the Democratic and Social Agreement, the Caledonian Liberal Movement, Democratic Union, Caledonian Popular Movement and AICLO) winning eighteen.

Although anti-autonomist parties won a one-seat majority, by early 1973 autonomist parties held 20 of the 35 seats following the defection of three members, including Fredy Gosse.[5]

Georges Chatenay resigned from the Assembly in March 1974 and was replaced by Joseph Tidjine.[6] Gosse resigned in May 1974 and was replaced by Evenor de Greslan.[7]