Jacques Lafleur had been the historical leader of the right-wing anti-independence Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (RPCR) since the party's creation in 1977.

However, in 2005, Lafleur announced his intentions to step down in favour of Pierre Frogier, who represented New Caledonia's second constituency and was a close supporter of the President of the UMP in France, now-President Nicolas Sarkozy.

In January 2006, Lafleur announced the creation of a new political newspaper in New Caledonia, the Bulletin d'Information.

In the April 2006 edition of the paper, he announced the creation of a new party, which would take the original name of the RPCR, the Rally for Caledonia.

With Lafleur's defeat, the RPC's only parliamentarian was the island's sole Senator, the anti-independence Kanak Simon Loueckhote.