New Caledonia’s Ponga Reelected To European Parliament

New Caledonia’s Ponga Reelected To European Parliament Only 17% of eligible Pacific voters cast a ballot

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, May 26, 2014) – New Caledonia's Maurice Ponga has been re-elected as the French Pacific's member of the European parliament.

Mr Ponga of the centre-right UMP Party is one of three French overseas politicians to be elected for a five-year term.

The vote elicited little interest, with the abstention rate across the overseas territories rising to a record 83 percent.

In Wallis and Futuna, however, almost half the voters cast their ballots, with Mr Ponga winning most votes.

Ten of the 19 candidates failed to win a single vote in Wallis and Futuna.