French PM announces delay in New Caledonia local elections

French PM Barnier delivers his general policy speech in front of the parliament in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Michel Barnier told parliament on Tuesday that he was delaying local elections in the overseas territory of New Caledonia until the end of 2025.

The Pacific island of New Caledonia has been hit by violent unrest between indigenous Kanaks and French loyalists.

(Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)