Macron holds crisis meeting amid unrest over plan to increase number of French nationals eligible to vote in Pacific territoryFrance has said it will impose a state of emergency in New Caledonia for at least 12 days, after a second night of unrest over changes to voting rights in the overseas territory that has resulted in the deaths of at least four people.A government spokeswoman, Prisca Thevenot, announced the decision after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon in Paris, saying it would aim to calm tensions after the “scenes of chaos.”
The emergency measures will give authorities greater powers to tackle the unrest, including the possibility of house detention for people deemed a threat to public order.
“The priority is to restore order, calm, serenity,” the spokeswoman said, the Associated Press reported. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/15/new-caledonia-protests-law-constitution-changes
Author : Angelique Chrisafis in Paris and agencies
Publish date : 2024-05-15 22:01:17
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