Overview

• After a second three‑hour meeting, the FLNKS restated its categorical rejection of the Bougival agreement, and Manuel Valls left saying his door remains open with further talks planned in Paris.
• The drafting committee completed sessions to translate the pact into legal text, though the Sénat coutumier withdrew early, saying its proposals were not heeded.
• The Bougival text would establish a State of New Caledonia within the French Constitution with a distinct Caledonian nationality and postpone provincial elections to mid‑2026.
• Local figures, including L’Éveil océanien, warned that moving ahead without the main pro‑independence front raises questions about the legitimacy of any settlement.
• Security concerns persist after the May 2024 unrest that left 14 dead and caused over €2 billion in damage, with Valls insisting the state will not be caught off guard.