The French High Commissioner in New Caledonia has turned to the Supreme Court in France to challenge the removal of 43 voters from the territory's roll for provincial elections.
This comes after criticism by anti-independence parties which accused the Commission of committing a serious blunder when it passed on information to the team vetting the roll.
The make-up of the roll is contentious as the pro-independence movement has accused the authorities of allowing thousands of people to be enrolled despite them failing to meet the residency requirements.
New Caledonia's Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre meets the outer Noumea skyline. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Special commissions, led by magistrates brought in from France, have been vetting rolls and last week, 54 people were struck off, allegedly in part because of information released by the High Commission.
The Commission has now in turn challenged the decisions by taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, is due in Noumea to help chart the next steps in the decolonisation process, which will result in a independence referendum by 2018.
