{
  "id": 28009,
  "title": "Kingmaker candidate elected new president of New Caledonia's government",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/kingmaker-candidate-elected-new-president-of-new-caledonias-government",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-07-31T21:51:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Pacific",
    "slug": "rnz-pacific",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/854646/kingmaker-candidate-elected-new-president-of-new-caledonia-s-government"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Milakulo Tukumuli, a member of the Eveil Océanien kingmaker party, has been elected as the new president of New Caledonia's government. He was chosen by the territory's 54-member Congress during a special session on Friday. The Congress meeting was triggered by recent provincial elections on June 28. The new government's composition mirrors the results of the provincial elections and the recent governance pact between the pro-France bloc and the Eveil Océanien party, which brought pro-France candidate Virginie Ruffenach to the Congress leadership earlier this month. Tukumuli, 41, is the first Wallisian-born president of New Caledonia's government. Christopher Gygès, from the former government, has been appointed as Vice-President. Another key member is Alcide Ponga, who previously served as Government President under the previous administration and is expected to oversee the mining sector. The government also includes Philippe Blaise and Laurent Bonnefond from the pro-France Rassemblement party, as well as Nina Julié, Johanito Wamytan, Ernest Déméné, and Meryl Marlier from the pro-independence grouping UC-FLNKS. Billy Forest, representing the UNI party, is responsible for finance and budget matters. The final distribution of ministerial portfolios is pending, with the government having ten days to finalize the allocations.",
  "summary": "Candidate from kingmaker party is elected new president of New Caledonia's 'collegial' government.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}