Voters in the southern Pacific French territory of New Caledonia are set to cast their ballots in a referendum on whether to break away from France and become an independent state.
The poll on Sunday is the second time New Caledonia holds such a referendum. Two years ago, almost 57 percent of voters voted against independence. If statehood is rejected again, a third referendum may be possible in 2022.
Choosing independence would lead to full devolution of powers to the territory of 273,000 people, and the end of generous subsidies from France, which provides $1.5bn in financial support annually.
More than 180,000 people are registered to vote in the poll, in which they will be asked the question: “Do you want New Caledonia to gain its full sovereignty and become independent?”
The United Nations and the regional Pacific Island Forum are observing the vote in the archipelago, which is located 1,200km (750 miles) east of Australia and 1,350km (840 miles) west of Fiji.
Campaigning was fierce in the lead up to the referendum given the slim margin seen in the 2018 poll. At the time, the No-camp won by 18,000 votes, a much narrower margin than expected.
“We have seen a lot of gatherings, meetings, and this year a show of colours: blue, white and red for the [Loyalists] and red, yellow and green for the Independents, much more than two years ago,” said Catherine Ris, Professor of Economics at the University of New Caledonia in the territory’s capital, Noumea.
“On the side of the political leaders, we observe more aggressive positions and speeches,” she told Al Jazeera, adding that politicians have stepped up efforts to mobilise younger and Indigenous voters living in the outer islands who may not have cast their ballots in the last referendum.
