Future Together
Encyclopedia
The Future Together is a center-right political party
in New Caledonia
supporting the maintenance of political and administrative ties with France
.
The name l'Avenir Ensemble reflects the party's desire to unite New Caledonians of all ethnic groups (White European
s, Melanesia
n Kanaks, Polynesian immigrants, etc.) into a shared future, rejecting the ethnic oppositions of the hitherto dominant parties of New Caledonia (White anti-independence parties vs. Kanak pro-independence parties). L'Avenir Ensemble believes in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural future for New Caledonia.
(RPCR). Leroux was an early opponent of Jacques Lafleur
within the RPCR. Leroux led the NO campaign in the Nouméa Accord referendum
in 1998. Despite Leroux being François Bayrou
's representative on the island and a member of Bayrou's Union for French Democracy
(and now MoDem
), a number of members of the original Alliance are members of the Union for a Popular Movement
.
The then-dominant loyalist party, the RPCR was weakened in 2003 and 2004 by a series of dissidents, who opposed Jacques Lafleur
's domination of the RPCR. These dissidents included Marie-Noëlle Thémereau
, who had left the RPCR in 2001; Harold Martin
, once Lafleur’s dauphin but excluded in 2003 for running a dissident list in the 2001 election
; and Philippe Gomès
, a friend of Martin. These dissidents formed a party called Future Together.
In the 2004 provincial elections
, the party shocked observers by winning as many seats as the RPCR (16 seats nationally, though it polled slightly less votes than the RPCR). As a result, Thémereau (and later Martin) became President of the Government of New Caledonia
. Gomès became President of the loyalist stronghold, the South Province
. In the South, the party had polled more votes than the RPCR, despite the province being considered the RPCR's stronghold on the island.
The party split in 2008. This split started in the 2007 legislative election
, when Gomès ran in New Caledonia's 1st constituency
despite Didier Leroux being supposed to run. Though both ran, and both polled 14%, they got third and fourth leaving the RPCR candidate Gaël Yanno
against the candidate of the nationalist FLNKS, which Yanno easily defeated. Martin was also defeated running the New Caledonia's 2nd constituency
. Poor results in the 2008 local elections
, including the capital, Nouméa
, precipitated an open split between Gomès on one side and Martin-Leroux on the other. In 2008, Gomès and 12 Future Together Congressmen and women (including Thémereau) formed Caledonia Together
.
In the 2009 provincial elections
, the party placed third winning (behind the winners, the RPCR, and Caledonia Together) 11.71% and only 6 seats (8 including the party's smaller allies).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
supporting the maintenance of political and administrative ties with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The name l'Avenir Ensemble reflects the party's desire to unite New Caledonians of all ethnic groups (White European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s, Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
n Kanaks, Polynesian immigrants, etc.) into a shared future, rejecting the ethnic oppositions of the hitherto dominant parties of New Caledonia (White anti-independence parties vs. Kanak pro-independence parties). L'Avenir Ensemble believes in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural future for New Caledonia.
History
The party's predecessor, A New Caledonia for All (Une Nouvelle-Calédonie pour Tous, UNCT) or Alliance (after 1998) was founded in 1995 by Didier Leroux, a former member of the dominant anti-nationalist Rally for Caledonia in the RepublicRally for Caledonia in the Republic
The The Rally–UMP is a conservative political party in New Caledonia, strongly supportive of the French status of the region; it is affiliated with the French Union for a Popular Movement.-History:...
(RPCR). Leroux was an early opponent of Jacques Lafleur
Jacques Lafleur
Jacques Lafleur was a French politician born in Nouméa, New Caledonia.Lafleur was a onetime leader of one of the two anti-independence parties in New Caledonia, the RPCR . He was a signatory to the Matignon Accords in 1988 and the Nouméa Accord in 1998...
within the RPCR. Leroux led the NO campaign in the Nouméa Accord referendum
New Caledonian Nouméa Accord referendum, 1998
A referendum on the Nouméa Accord was held on 8 November 1998 in New Caledonia. The referendum approved the Nouméa Accord with 72% in favour....
in 1998. Despite Leroux being François Bayrou
François Bayrou
François Bayrou is a French centrist politician, president of Union for French Democracy since 1998 and was a candidate in the 2002 and 2007 French presidential elections. In the first round, he received 18.6% of the vote, finishing in 3rd place and therefore was eliminated from the race....
's representative on the island and a member of Bayrou's Union for French Democracy
Union for French Democracy
The Union for French Democracy was a French centrist political party. It was founded in 1978 as an electoral alliance to support President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in order to counterbalance the Gaullist preponderance over the right. This name was chosen due to the title of Giscard d'Estaing's...
(and now MoDem
Democratic Movement (France)
The Democratic Movement , MoDem) is a centrist, social liberal and pro-European French political party that was founded by centrist politician François Bayrou to succeed his Union for French Democracy and to contest the 2007 legislative election, after his strong showing in the 2007 presidential...
), a number of members of the original Alliance are members of the Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
.
The then-dominant loyalist party, the RPCR was weakened in 2003 and 2004 by a series of dissidents, who opposed Jacques Lafleur
Jacques Lafleur
Jacques Lafleur was a French politician born in Nouméa, New Caledonia.Lafleur was a onetime leader of one of the two anti-independence parties in New Caledonia, the RPCR . He was a signatory to the Matignon Accords in 1988 and the Nouméa Accord in 1998...
's domination of the RPCR. These dissidents included Marie-Noëlle Thémereau
Marie-Noëlle Thémereau
Marie-Noëlle Thémereau is the former president of the government of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. She is a member of the loyalist Future Together party...
, who had left the RPCR in 2001; Harold Martin
Harold Martin
Harold Martin may refer to:* Harold Martin , VFL player and VFA coach* Harold Martin , Member of the New Jersey General Assembly* Harold Martin , politician of New Caledonia...
, once Lafleur’s dauphin but excluded in 2003 for running a dissident list in the 2001 election
French municipal elections, 2001
Municipal elections were held in France on 11 and 18 March 2001. These elections were marked by a setback for the left and a victory for the right one year before the 2002 presidential election...
; and Philippe Gomès
Philippe Gomès
Philippe Gomès is a New Caledonian politician and, from 5 June 2009 to 11 March 2011, President of the Government of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
, a friend of Martin. These dissidents formed a party called Future Together.
In the 2004 provincial elections
New Caledonian legislative election, 2004
Legislative elections for the Congress were held in New Caledonia on 9 May 2004. Although the Rally for Caledonia in the Republic and Future Together both won 16 seats, Future Together's Marie-Noëlle Thémereau became President....
, the party shocked observers by winning as many seats as the RPCR (16 seats nationally, though it polled slightly less votes than the RPCR). As a result, Thémereau (and later Martin) became President of the Government of New Caledonia
President of the Government of New Caledonia
This is the list of Presidents of the Government of New Caledonia since 1998, when the Nouméa Accord was signed. The President is often from the largest party in the Congress of New Caledonia, though the government itself is made up of cabinet ministers from all parties in Congress, allocated...
. Gomès became President of the loyalist stronghold, the South Province
South Province, New Caledonia
The South Province is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia. It corresponds to the southern and southwestern portion of the New Caledonian mainland. It is by far the most economically developed and most urbanized part of the archipelago and indeed in the entire Melanesian region...
. In the South, the party had polled more votes than the RPCR, despite the province being considered the RPCR's stronghold on the island.
The party split in 2008. This split started in the 2007 legislative election
French legislative election, 2007
The French legislative elections took place on 10 June and 17 June 2007 to elect the 13th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic, a few weeks after the French presidential election run-off on 6 May. 7,639 candidates stood for 577 seats, including France's overseas possessions...
, when Gomès ran in New Caledonia's 1st constituency
New Caledonia's 1st constituency
The 1st constituency of New Caledonia is a French legislative constituency in New Caledonia.Between 1958 and 1962, the constituency represented the entirety of the New Hebrides condominium and the constituency represented the entirety of New Caledonia until a redistricting in 1978 created the 2nd...
despite Didier Leroux being supposed to run. Though both ran, and both polled 14%, they got third and fourth leaving the RPCR candidate Gaël Yanno
Gaël Yanno
Gaël Yanno is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the island of New Caledonia, with Pierre Frogier, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. He is a member of the commission of finance, general economy and budgetary control. He has been elected in June,...
against the candidate of the nationalist FLNKS, which Yanno easily defeated. Martin was also defeated running the New Caledonia's 2nd constituency
New Caledonia's 2nd constituency
The 2nd constituency of New Caledonia is a French legislative constituency in New Caledonia.The second constituency was created in a redistricting in 1978. Between 1978 and a new redistricting in 1986, the second constituency represented the ethnically diverse western shore of the main island, but...
. Poor results in the 2008 local elections
French municipal elections, 2008
The French municipal elections of 2008 were held on 9 March in that year to elect the municipal councils of France's 36,782 communes...
, including the capital, Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, precipitated an open split between Gomès on one side and Martin-Leroux on the other. In 2008, Gomès and 12 Future Together Congressmen and women (including Thémereau) formed Caledonia Together
Caledonia Together
Caledonia Together is a New Caledonian political party established on 14 October 2008 as a split from Future Together led by Philippe Gomès. It is centrist and it is opposed to independence.Future Together, a centrist party founded in 2004 split in 2008...
.
In the 2009 provincial elections
New Caledonian legislative election, 2009
Parliamentary elections were held in New Caledonia on 10 May 2009. Voters in New Caledonia chose 76 candidates for the French territory's three provincial assemblies. Fifty-four of these 76 members were also to become members of the Congress of New Caledonia...
, the party placed third winning (behind the winners, the RPCR, and Caledonia Together) 11.71% and only 6 seats (8 including the party's smaller allies).