Legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 6 October 1957.[1] The result was a victory for the Caledonian Union, which won 18 of the 30 seats.
Electoral system
editPrior to the elections the 25-seat General Council was replaced by a 30-seat Territorial Assembly. The new body was elected by open list proportional representation.[2]
The elections were held under universal suffrage, with around 33,600 registered voters,[1] of which 18,964 were Kanaks and 13,406 Europeans.[3]
Campaign
editA total of 123 candidates contested the 30 seats, representing eight parties.[1] The campaign started on 16 September,[4] and was reported by Pacific Islands Monthly to have been "mild, with hardly an unkind word exchanged".[1]
Results
editOf the 30 elected members, 17 were Europeans and 13 Kanaks.[1]
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Caledonian Union | 18 | |
| National Centre of Social Republicans | 7 | |
| Lafleur Party | 3 | |
| Group of Caledonian Peasants | 1 | |
| Rally of Caledonian Workers | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | |
| Source: Pacific Islands Monthly | ||
Elected members
editAftermath
editAn eight-member cabinet was elected by the Territorial Assembly in late October. All eight ministers were from the Caledonian Union.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e New Caledonia Polls: The Most Important Election Ever Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1957, p15
- ^ New Governing Body for New Caledonia Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1957, p164
- ^ Governor's Action Saves N. Caledonia From Civil War Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1958, pp17–18
- ^ The date of the New Caledonia elections is set down Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1957, p18
- ^ N. Caledonia Elects New Cabinet Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1957, p24