X A V I Posted November 4, 2018 Posted November 4, 2018 Voters in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia have rejected a bid for independence. Final results showed that 56.4% chose to remain part of France while 43.6% voted to leave - a tighter result than some polls had predicted. Turnout was about 81%. The vote was promised by a 1988 deal that put an end to a violent campaign for independence. President Emmanuel Macron said it showed "confidence in the French republic". "I have to tell you how proud I am that we have finally passed this historic step together," he added. New Caledonia has large deposits of nickel, a vital component in manufacturing electronics, and is seen by France as a strategic political and economic asset in the region.
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