France, April 3 -- The National Assembly voted 190 to 107 to throw out the bill, put forward by pro-independence MP Emmanuel Tjibaou. The move sends the text back into the parliamentary process with the Senate, leaving its future uncertain - at least in its current form.

The result had been widely expected, with left-wing parties and the far-right National Rally (RN) saying in advance they would support the rejection.

The vote came nearly two years after a previous reform attempt triggered violent unrest in the Pacific territory, leaving 14 people dead and pushing the local economy into crisis.

French local elections reshape political landscape in overseas territories A divisive deal

The bill aimed to enshrine in the constitution the ...