Final results of New Caledonia referendum shows most voters stayed away

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron attends a meeting with New Caledonia representatives to discuss the consequences of the referendum on New Caledonia self-determination, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France June 1, 2021. Bertrand Guay/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Final results of an independence referendum in the French territory of New Caledonia show almost two-thirds of voters abstained or returned blank or null ballots, after a call for a boycott by supporters of independence.

The referendum result showed 96.5% of those who did vote on Sunday opposed independence, after a big drop in turnout due to the boycott call.