Harold Martin (politician)

Harold Martin
Harold Martin in 2012.
President of the Government of New Caledonia
In office 11 March 2011 – 5 June 2014
Preceded by	Philippe Gomès
Succeeded by	Cynthia Ligeard
In office 7 August 2007 – 5 June 2009
Preceded by	Marie-Noëlle Thémereau
Succeeded by	Philippe Gomès
Personal details
Born	(1954-04-06) 6 April 1954 Nouméa, New Caledonia
Nationality	French
Political party	L'Avenir Ensemble
Spouse(s)	Hélène Messud

Harold Martin (born 6 April 1954, Nouméa, New Caledonia) is a New Caledonian politician. He served twice as President of the Government of New Caledonia (from 7 August 2007 to 10 May 2009 and again from 3 March 2011 to 5 June 2014) and three times as President of the Congress of New Caledonia (most recently from 22 May 2009 to 3 March 2011). Former student as a site manager in the ESTP, Martin replaced Marie-Noëlle Thémereau in 2007 as the leader of the ruling Future Together party after the party suffered an electoral setback to choose the territory’s two members of the French assembly.^[1]

Coming from one of the oldest families of European origin, Martin is descended from a nephew of James Paddon, the British adventurer widely credited as having been the first European settler on the island, before the French annexation in 1853.

Further, he directs an agricultural society. Thus, he has been president of the Council on the Regulation and Establishment of Agricultural Prices (ERPA) in 1991, 1993, and from 1994 to 1995.

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