note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts;
Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance pour la Caledonie [Didier
LEROUX]; Developper Ensemble pour Construire l'Avenir or DEPCA
[Robert FROUIN]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des
Independantistes or FCCI [Leopald SOREDIE]; Front Uni de Liberation
Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Groupe de l'Alliance Multiraciale or GAM
[Dany DALMAYRAE]; Independance et Progres [Alphonse PUJAPUJANE];
Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [Rock
WAMYTAN] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); La Caledonie Autrement
[Denis MILLIARD]; Loyalty Islands Development Front or FDIL [Cono
HAMU]; National Front or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Parti de Liberation Kanak
or PALIKA [Charles WASHETINE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
or RPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [leader
NA]; Renouveau [Thierry VALET]; Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS
[Nidoish NAISSELINE]; Union Caledonienne or UC [Bernard LEPEU];
Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; Union
Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Andre GOPEA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
New Caledonia Economy
Economy - overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, the substantial financial support from France and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. The situation in 1998 was clouded by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower prices for nickel. Nickel prices jumped in 1999-2000, and large additions were made to capacity. French Government interests in the New Caledonian nickel industry are being transferred to local ownership.