The French referendum on self-determination of New Caledonia was held on June 28, 1988 under the Matignon Agreements , which established the order of self-determination of New Caledonia . The majority of voters (80%) with a low turnout (36.9%) approved the right of New Caledonia to self-determination.
- The question submitted to the referendum was as follows:
Approuvez-vous le projet de loi soumis au peuple français par le président de la République et portant dispositions statutaires et préparatoires à l'autodétermination de la Nouvelle-Calédonie?
Do you approve the draft law submitted to the French people by the President of the Republic, containing legislative and preparatory provisions for the self-determination of New Caledonia?
Results
| Participation in the referendum: | ||
| Bulletins omitted | 14,028,705 | 36.89% |
| Did not vote | 23,997 118 | 63.11% |
| Total voters | 38,025,823 | one hundred% |
| Bulletins omitted: | ||
| Valid | 12 371 046 | 88.18% |
| Incomplete and Invalid | 1 657 659 | 11.82% |
| Total votes | 14,028,705 | one hundred% |
| Yes and no: | ||
| Yes (for) | 9 896 498 | 80.0% |
| No (against) | 2,474,548 | 20.0% |
| Total | 12 371 046 | one hundred% |