“It is necessary to rethink our ways of doing things” AND “a trust to rebuild” with overseas territories, says its new minister, François-Noël Buffet. This applies for the first time to a kneeling New Caledonia since the independence uprising of May 13. For his first four-day visit, which began Wednesday, Oct. 16, Buffet hopes to convince people he’s using a new method.
“The desire is to understand each other better to avoid the mistakes of the recent past. “The values of the Republic and Kanak values are complementary.”repeated a member of the High Commission, carrying the word of the State during the traditional greeting ceremonies to local institutions. Offering each time a Lyon silk, The minister then insisted on the symbol. “of a thread that is very fragile on its own and very strong when woven.” Enough to contradict a loyal side that had the attention of the previous government and in which Sonia Backès judges “Kanak feudal society” and his “antagonisms” with western culture irreconcilable ».
In April 2023, François-Noël Buffet, then senator (Les Républicains, Rhône), co-signed a report on Caledonian institutions, which warned of the risks of a flammable reform: that of the expansion of the local electoral body, carried out carried out outside of a broader political agreement on the future of the territory and within the tight calendar chosen by the government in power. “If this report has been considered a reference it is because it is the result of real work of dialogue and listening”the minister assures today World.
“Do not confuse weakness with patience”
On the political issue, the former senator specifies, “The electorate is not the focus of the moment. “We must first respond to the absolute urgency of New Caledonia’s economic and social collapse.”. And to clarify your thoughts: “We are giving ourselves time to build something solid. You lose a step and everything falls, that’s what we just saw.” with the violent explosion of May. “We must not confuse weakness with patience. »
The message was brought to the traditional Senate, which claims a place in the reconstruction of New Caledonian society. The president of the institution, Mahé Gowe, criticized on Wednesday the past method, which according to him resulted in a “inability of public authorities to initiate mediation and leave the initiative solely to the justice system and the police”. Adding: “The institutional practice that was content to maintain a discriminatory dualism between Western society and Kanak society has structured a profound social unrest. » we will have to agree “on the postulates and on the method”the usual boss agreed, it being understood that it is “It is necessary to take into account that 90% of the indigenous population and its youth want independence”.
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