A pro-independence party in New Caledonia, Palika, is urging people to vote for any left politician in the first round of the French presidential election on Sunday.

The Kanak party said there was a strong link between the French political left and the pro-independence movement of New Caledonia.

While Palika hasn't mentioned him, Jean-Luc Melenchon is the strongest left-wing candidate in the election, looking to unseat Emmanuel Macron.

He called the outcome of last year's referendum, which was boycotted by all pro-independence parties, a catastrophe.

He said the French government destroyed the consensus process of the Accord by imposing last December's referendum date and triggering a huge abstention by the pro-independence side.

Melenchon has suggested keeping the 1998 Noumea Accord going for another decade.