French voters hand Govt hollow victory

Press, 8 November 1988, Page 8

French voters hand Govt hollow victory

NZPA-Reuter Paris French voters handed the Socialist Government a hollow victory by endorsing a peace plan for the South Pacific territory of New Caledonia but staying away in record numbers from a referendum. Only 37 per cent of the French electorate turned out to vote on the future of New Caledonia in a poll on which the Prime Minister, Michel Rocard had staked his personal prestige. It was the highest abstention rate in any national poll this century. Just over 80 per cent of those who voted endorsed Mr Rocard’s plan, agreed weeks after he came to power last May by Kanak separatists and pro-French loyalists and hailed as rescuing the island chain from civil war. Opposition Parliamentarians ranging from Centrists to the extreme Right said the referendum was a bitter defeat for Mr Rocard and for the Socialist President, Francois Mitterrand. Jean-Marie Le Pen, head of the far-Right National Front Party, the only group to call for a “No” vote, said Mr Rocard had suffered a “bloody defeat” and that the referendum was invalid. Mr Le Pen said Mr Mitterrand should resign. Alain Juppe, the secretary-general of the conservative Rally for the Republic opposition party, said that a future Government that did not agree with the peace plan could change the law. Mr Rocard’s Government says the accord cannot be reversed.