Twenty-five New Caledonian members of Congress known as the "Loyalists" walked out of Congress after a disagreement over the 2022 budget.
On Tuesday 29th of March, the second day of the 2022 New Caledonian budget vote, New Caledonia's Congress voted on the Reversal Budget and the Distribution Budget.
The Reversal Budget is $US600 million for public institutions in the territory.
The Distribution Budget is $US1 billion distributed to districts and regions of the territory of New Caledonia.
Both budgets were adopted, with 29 votes in favour and 25 votes against.
The alliance of anti-independence parties, known as the Loyalists said they felt ignored. AEC (Avenir en Confiance) Party member Virginie Ruffenach said there was a lack of cooperation from the pro-independence government, who had not answered their financial questions which led to the Loyalists walking out.
Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Walter Zweifel
The President of New Caledonia, Louis Mapou, said that the walkout should not go unnoticed and that nothing justifies the departure of the elected Opposition.
"We have come a long way so far. Democracy has been a huge combat, permanent and historic. It is why we must not take the walkout as a minor incident," he said.
The majority insisted on finishing Tuesday's Congress meeting. However, the Loyalists did not return and the rest of Congress continued the vote in their absence.
The Loyalists criticised the decrease of funding to the provinces and communes in the Distribution Budget 2022 which was reduced by $US45.6 million equivalent to four percent less than the previous budget.
