Low turnout at New Caledonia independence poll 'weighs heavily' - election observers

FILE PHOTO: Secretary General of the Elysee Palace Alexis Kohler, French President Emmanuel Macron and French Overseas Minister Sebastien Lecornu meet with New Caledonia representatives to discuss the consequences of the forthcoming referendum on New Caledonia self-determination and its date, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France June 1, 2021. Bertrand Guay/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Low voter turnout at New Caledonia's independence referendum, after a boycott by indigenous groups "weighs heavily" on the French territory's self-determination process, election observers from the Pacific Islands Forum said on Tuesday.

France declared the result of Sunday's referendum showed 96.5% of those who voted opposed independence, compared to 57% in 2018 and 53% in 2020.