ElectionAn election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and...
s for the
Assembly of French PolynesiaThe Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The last elections were held on May 23,...
, the Territorial Assembly of
French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
, were held on May 23, 2004.
In a surprise result
Oscar TemaruOscar Manutahi Temaru is French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on three occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2008.He first served as the President of French Polynesia Oscar Manutahi Temaru...
's pro-independence progressive coalition forms Government with a one seat majority in the 57 seat parliament, defeating the conservative party led by
Gaston FlosseGaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France...
(see also
List of political parties in French Polynesia). On October 8, 2004, the Gaston Flosse led opposition party succeeds in passing a censure motion against the Government provoking a political crisis.
A major topic of controversy is whether the national
government of FranceThe government of the French Republic is a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be "an indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic"...
should use its exceptional power to call for new elections in a local government, in case of a grave political crisis.
Timeline
23 May, 2004: ElectionAn election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and...
s for the
Assembly of French PolynesiaThe Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The last elections were held on May 23,...
(
Assemblée de la Polynésie française), the territorial assembly of
French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
, held. A progressive coalition lead by pro-independence
Oscar TemaruOscar Manutahi Temaru is French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on three occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2008.He first served as the President of French Polynesia Oscar Manutahi Temaru...
wins 26 (27 respectively) seats and forms a coalition with 3 (2 respectively) autonomist members to form a Government with a majority of one (see also
List of political parties in French Polynesia). The conservative party led by
Gaston FlosseGaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France...
has 28 seats.
10 June, 2004: Former President,
Gaston FlosseGaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France...
, and his conservative party,
Tahoeraa HuiraatiraTāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23 2004, and by-elections on February 13 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
, stayed away from the presidential (
Le président de la Polynésie française) election, thus invalidating it, as a three-fifths quorum was required. He subsequently lost one defector to Oscar Temaru.
14 June, 2004: Oscar Temaru elected President (
Le président de la Polynésie française) (when a simple majority quorum was required), gaining 30 out of 57 votes.
5 October, 2004: Two motions of censure tabled in the
Assembly of French PolynesiaThe Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The last elections were held on May 23,...
(
Assemblée de la Polynésie française). One from Gaston Flosse's
Tahoeraa HuiraatiraTāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23 2004, and by-elections on February 13 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
party, and one from a new group, Te Ara, that includes three former members of Flosse’s party.
(tahitipresse)
9 October, 2004: A motion of censure tabled by the conservative
Tahoeraa HuiraatiraTāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23 2004, and by-elections on February 13 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
, was adopted by 29 votes out of 57. The motion was proposed by opposition leader Gaston Flosse after Oscar Temaru ordered an audit of the previous government, which was led by Gaston Flosse. A second censure motion was not voted upon.
(Radio Australia)
(tahitipresse)
12 October, 2004: Tahoeraa HuiraatiraTāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23 2004, and by-elections on February 13 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
, endorses its President,
Gaston FlosseGaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France...
, as its official candidate for the Presidency in the French administered territory of
French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
(
Le président de la Polynésie française).
(Oceania Flash)
The President of the
Assembly of French PolynesiaThe Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The last elections were held on May 23,...
(
Le président de l'Assemblée de la Polynésie française), Antony Géros, from Oscar Temaru's coalition government, insisted that the parliament should meet on October 25 to elect a new government president (
Le président de la Polynésie française). However, this date was against the advice of the French High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (
Le Haut-Commissaire de la République en Polynésie française)
Michel MathieuMichel Mathieu is the current high commissioner of New Caledonia. He took office in July 2005. Previously he was the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia from 17 November 2001, to 30 July 2005, when he was succeeded by Jacques Michaut.- External links :*...
who stated in written letters that the Assembly of French Polynesia (
Assemblée de la Polynésie française) is required to vote on a new government president (
Le président de la Polynésie française) within 15 days of the passage of a censure motion. The third Vice president of the Assembly of French Polynesia, Lana Tetuanui from Gaston Flosse’s party, called for the Assembly to sit on October 20, 2004.
(tahitipresse)
15 October, 2004: Second request by Oscar Temaru for fresh elections denied by French minister for overseas Territories (
la Ministre de l’Outre-mer) Brigitte Girardin.
(Oceania Flash)
16 October, 2004: More than 20,000 people march through
PapeetePapeete is the capital of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, of which Papeete is the administrative capital...
on
TahitiTahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The island had a population of 178,133 inhabitants according to the August 2007 census. This makes it the most populous island of French Polynesia,...
, the main island of
French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
, in support of Oscar Temaru demanding new elections. Demonstrations also occur across French Polynesia.
(tahitipresse)
19 October, 2004: French Polynesia’s caretaker government president,
Oscar TemaruOscar Manutahi Temaru is French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on three occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2008.He first served as the President of French Polynesia Oscar Manutahi Temaru...
, has asked the Papeete administrative court (
Le Tribunal administiratif de la Polynésie française) to suspend, then cancel the October 9 adopted censure motion.
(tahitipresse)
20 October, 2004: The
Assembly of French PolynesiaThe Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The last elections were held on May 23,...
meets, but is unable to elect a new president (
Le président de la Polynésie française) as there is not a required quorum in attendance due to a boycott of members supporting
Oscar TemaruOscar Manutahi Temaru is French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on three occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2008.He first served as the President of French Polynesia Oscar Manutahi Temaru...
.
(Oceania Flash)
22 October, 2004: The
Assembly of French PolynesiaThe Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The last elections were held on May 23,...
meets to elect President (
Le président de la Polynésie française). Simple Majority required.
Gaston FlosseGaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France...
was re-elected (
Le président de la Polynésie française) by a one-vote majority and sworn in immediately during a parliamentary session boycotted by caretaker President
Oscar TemaruOscar Manutahi Temaru is French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on three occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2008.He first served as the President of French Polynesia Oscar Manutahi Temaru...
. The parliament elected Flosse with 29 of 57 votes; the 28 pro-independence members boycotted the vote.
Antony Géros, the president of the Assembly of French Polynesia (
Le président de l'Assemblée de la Polynésie française), did not participate in Friday’s session, and also described Flosse’s election Friday as an "election of the president of the
Tahoeraa HuiraatiraTāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23 2004, and by-elections on February 13 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
", which is a reference to Flosse’s pro-autonomy and anti-independence party. Geros said that Monday, October 25, is the only legitimate date for the parliament to elect a government president following the censure motion.
(tahitipresse)
23 October, 2004: a
Council of StateIn France, the Council of State is an organ of the French national government that provides the executive branch with legal advice and acts as the administrative court of last resort...
(French national supreme administrative court) judge rejected two petitions from Tahiti to suspend the October 9 censure motion that toppled French Polynesia President (
Le président de la Polynésie française) Oscar Temaru’s majority coalition government.
(tahitipresse)
26 October, 2004: Tensions remain high in French Polynesia as the Leadership remains in doubt. The Legislative Assembly failed to sit on Monday, October 25. Assembly Speaker (
Le président de l'Assemblée de la Polynésie française), Antony Géros, failed to turn up and chair the sitting he himself had scheduled.
Gaston FlosseGaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France...
, who was elected President (
Le président de la Polynésie française) by an assembly sitting on October 22, attempted to enter the Presidential palace on the weekend but was met by closed gates.
(Oceania Flash)
15 November, 2004: The Council of State, judging on a request from Gaston Flosse, cancels the May elections in the
Windward IslandsThe Windward Islands are the eastern group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
-circonscription . (
decision,
communiqué, in French language), for the reason that the neutrality of election officials was not observed in one of the communes, which, given the small difference of vote counts, may have altered the electoral results.
13 February, 2005: By-electionA by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections...
s for the
Assembly of French PolynesiaThe Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The last elections were held on May 23,...
are held in the
Windward IslandsThe Windward Islands are the eastern group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
-circumscription .
(Governmental site). The pro-independence-coalition wins 30 seats: Part of the pro-independence-coalition is the Union for the Democracy (
Union pour la Démocratie) with Oscar Temaru's
Tavini HuiraatiraThe Tavini Huiraatira is a political party in French Polynesia.The party was founded in 1977 by Oscar Temaru under the name the Front for the Liberation of Polynesia...
(
People's servant) which wins 27 seats and the Alliance for a New Democracy (
Alliance pour une Démocratie Nouvelle) which wins 3 seats. The Conservative coalition (consisting of one party only), the pro-autonomy, anti-independence
Tahoera'a HuiraatiraTāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23 2004, and by-elections on February 13 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
(
Popular Rally), wins only 27 seats.
3 March, 2005: Oscar Temaru elected President of French Polynesia (
Le président de la Polynésie française) for the second time.
External links