Valls also proposed establishing a drafting committee to clarify the constitutional texts related to the agreement, aiming to address criticisms and refine the role of the Kanak people.

The upcoming provincial elections are crucial for legitimizing political factions, as provinces hold most governance powers, and the political landscape remains highly polarized.

Despite opposition, some non-independence groups support Bougival, while major parties like Les Loyalistes and Rassemblement-LR condemn the FLNKS rejection as a betrayal.

The ongoing tensions are compounded by fears of coercive actions from France, including a controversial electoral overhaul, which could escalate conflicts.

The FLNKS, New Caledonia's main independence movement, has officially rejected the Bougival agreement signed in July with the French government and non-independence parties, during an extraordinary congress in Nouméa on August 13, 2025.

Christian Tein, FLNKS president, criticized the agreement as rushed and emphasized the need for dialogue that respects the dignity of the Kanak people.

Despite initial support, many independence activists now oppose the Bougival plan, which proposes increased autonomy and a pathway to full sovereignty by April 2027, including transferring foreign affairs.

Internal divisions persist within FLNKS, with moderate parties UPM and PALIKA distancing themselves from radical factions and signing the Bougival document, which FLNKS denounces as a betrayal.

Five FLNKS negotiators who signed the agreement have been demoted, reaffirming the organization's opposition and its stance that only decolonization within international law can lead to independence.

The FLNKS has called for mobilization among pro-independence forces to oppose Bougival, asserting its legitimacy as the sole representative of the Kanak people's right to self-determination.

French Minister Manuel Valls plans to visit New Caledonia next week to engage with stakeholders and promote the agreement, despite opposition from independence leaders.

Valls expressed regret over the expected rejection of the agreement, emphasizing it was a result of extensive negotiations and warning against French attempts to enforce it through parliamentary means.