French Polynesian legislative election, 2004
Encyclopedia
Election
s for the Assembly of French Polynesia
, the Territorial Assembly of French Polynesia
, were held on May 23, 2004.
In a surprise result Oscar Temaru
's pro-independence progressive coalition formed Government with a one seat majority in the 57 seat parliament, defeating the conservative party led by Gaston Flosse
(see also List of political parties in French Polynesia). On October 8, 2004, the Gaston Flosse led opposition party succeeded in passing a censure motion against the Government. This provoked a political crisis, and controversy about whether the national government of France
should use its exceptional power to call for new elections in a local government, in case of a grave political crisis.
s for the Assembly of French Polynesia
(Assemblée de la Polynésie française), the territorial assembly of French Polynesia
, held. A progressive coalition led by pro-independence Oscar 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 Flosse
has 28 seats.
10 June 2004: Former President, Gaston Flosse
, and his conservative party, Tahoeraa Huiraatira
, 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 Polynesia
(Assemblée de la Polynésie française). One from Gaston Flosse's Tahoeraa Huiraatira
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 Huiraatira
, 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 Huiraatira
, endorses its President, Gaston Flosse
, as its official candidate for the Presidency in the French administered territory of French Polynesia
(Le président de la Polynésie française). (Oceania Flash)
The President of the Assembly of French Polynesia
(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 Mathieu
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 Papeete
on Tahiti
, the main island of French Polynesia
, 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 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 Polynesia
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 Temaru
. (Oceania Flash)
22 October 2004: The Assembly of French Polynesia
meets to elect President (Le président de la Polynésie française). Simple Majority required. Gaston Flosse
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 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 Huiraatira
", 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 State (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 Flosse
, 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 Islands
-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-election
s for the Assembly of French Polynesia
are held in the Windward Islands
-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 Huiraatira
(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 Huiraatira
(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.
Election
An 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 operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s for the Assembly of French Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The 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 only official language of the...
, the Territorial Assembly of French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . 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 Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
's pro-independence progressive coalition formed Government with a one seat majority in the 57 seat parliament, defeating the conservative party led by Gaston Flosse
Gaston Flosse
Gaston 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.-Life and career:...
(see also List of political parties in French Polynesia). On October 8, 2004, the Gaston Flosse led opposition party succeeded in passing a censure motion against the Government. This provoked a political crisis, and controversy about whether the national government of France
Government of France
The 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: ElectionElection
An 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 operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s for the Assembly of French Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The 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 only official language of the...
(Assemblée de la Polynésie française), the territorial assembly of French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . 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 led by pro-independence Oscar Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
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 Flosse
Gaston Flosse
Gaston 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.-Life and career:...
has 28 seats.
10 June 2004: Former President, Gaston Flosse
Gaston Flosse
Gaston 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.-Life and career:...
, and his conservative party, Tahoeraa Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa 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 Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The 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 only official language of the...
(Assemblée de la Polynésie française). One from Gaston Flosse's Tahoeraa Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa 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 Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa 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 Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa 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 Flosse
Gaston Flosse
Gaston 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.-Life and career:...
, as its official candidate for the Presidency in the French administered territory of French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . 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 Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The 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 only official language of the...
(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 Mathieu
Michel Mathieu
Michel Mathieu was high commissioner of New Caledonia from July 2005 until his death.Mathieu was born in Montpellier. 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...
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 Papeete
Papeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
on Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, the main island of French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . 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 Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
, 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 Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The 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 only official language of the...
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 Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
. (Oceania Flash)
22 October 2004: The Assembly of French Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The 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 only official language of the...
meets to elect President (Le président de la Polynésie française). Simple Majority required. Gaston Flosse
Gaston Flosse
Gaston 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.-Life and career:...
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 Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
. 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 Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa 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 State (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 Flosse
Gaston Flosse
Gaston 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.-Life and career:...
, 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 Islands
Windward Islands (Society Islands)
The 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-election
By-election
A 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 Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The 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 only official language of the...
are held in the Windward Islands
Windward Islands (Society Islands)
The 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 Huiraatira
Tavini Huiraatira
The 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 Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa 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.