Gaston Tong Sang
Encyclopedia
Gaston Tong Sang is the former President of French Polynesia
. He served terms as President of French Polynesia
from November 2009 until April 2011, from April 2008 until February 2009 and from December 2006 until September 2007.; he is currently the Mayor of Bora-Bora. He is of Chinese
descent, and is a founding member of French Polynesia's pro-French Tahoera'a Huiraatira
political party.
Tong Sang was the Tahoera'a Huiraatira
party's presidential candidate in the election of March 2005, but was defeated by Oscar Temaru
by 29 votes to 26. On 26 December 2006, Tong Sang was elected President of French Polynesia by 31 votes to 26.
On January 18, 2007 Tong Sang's new government survived a motion of no confidence
brought by the party of former French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru. Only 26 MPs showed up for the vote, which needed three additional MPs in order to pass.
in July 2007. Flosse, a powerful pro-France
politician
and founder of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party, of which Tong Sang is a member, accused Tong Sang of caving in too easily to the demands of some of French Polynesia's minor coalition parties and ignoring the needs of Tahoeraa Huiraatira.
Critics of Flosse charged that the allegations against Tong Sang were a move by Flosse to regain the presidency. Flosse's critics bolstered their charges against Flosse when it was revealed that Flosse had held "secret talks" with Oscar Temaru, a leading pro-independence politician who has been Flosse's long time political opponent in the past. According to reports, the talks were aimed at ousting Tong Sang from office and setting up a unity platform between Flosse and Temaru's respective political parties.
A no confidence motion was introduced by Temaru's Union for Democracy (UPLD) party on Wednesday, August 29, 2007. The UPLD said that the no cofidence motion against Tong Sang was based on the fact that he had only small support in Parliament and that he had lost his legitimacy to govern. Tong Sang's own Tahoeraa Huiraatira party asked President Tong Sang to resign ahead of the vote of no confidence against him. Tong Sang refused the calls from his party to step down.
Gaston Tong Sang was removed from office and his government fell after a vote of no confidence on August 31, 2007. The motion of no confidence was passed by French Polynesia's 57 member Parliament. The motion against Tong Sang was passed by a majority 35 members of Parliament, including some members of Tong Sang's own Tahoera'a Huiraatira party. Tong Sang had tried to save his government by offering Tahoer'a Huiraatira 7 ministerial posts. The party refused.
The motion against Tong Sang was the first time that Oscar Temaru's Unity for Democracy Party and Gaston Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira party had formed a defacto alliance
to oust a sitting French Polynesian government.
Tong Sang continued on as part of a caretaker government
position until new elections were held on September 10, 2007.
The Tong Sang government was the third French Polynesian government to fall to motions of no confidence in the preceding three years, prompting calls for reform.
On September 14, 2007, Temaru was elected as President of French Polynesia for the third time in three years, replacing Tong Sang.
Tong Sang subsequently founded a new party, O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
, on 1 October 2007.
On 15 April 2008 Tong Sang again became President following a no confidence motion against the government of Gaston Flosse
. He resigned again on 8 February 2009, and Oscar Temaru
became president again after beating Tong Sang in the presidential election
on 12 February 2009.
He became president again on 25 November 2009 after Temaru fell in a vote of no confidence. He fell to a vote of no confidence himself on 1 April 2011.
President of French Polynesia
This is the list of Presidents of French Polynesia.-See also:*List of monarchs of Tahiti*Colonial and Departmental Heads of French Polynesia-External links:*...
. He served terms as President 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...
from November 2009 until April 2011, from April 2008 until February 2009 and from December 2006 until September 2007.; he is currently the Mayor of Bora-Bora. He is of Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
descent, and is a founding member of French Polynesia's pro-French 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....
political party.
Tong Sang was the 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....
party's presidential candidate in the election of March 2005, but was defeated by 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...
by 29 votes to 26. On 26 December 2006, Tong Sang was elected President of French Polynesia by 31 votes to 26.
On January 18, 2007 Tong Sang's new government survived a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
brought by the party of former French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru. Only 26 MPs showed up for the vote, which needed three additional MPs in order to pass.
2007 Political Crisis
Gaston Tong Sang was heavily criticized by former French Polynesian President Gaston FlosseGaston 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:...
in July 2007. Flosse, a powerful pro-France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and founder of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party, of which Tong Sang is a member, accused Tong Sang of caving in too easily to the demands of some of French Polynesia's minor coalition parties and ignoring the needs of Tahoeraa Huiraatira.
Critics of Flosse charged that the allegations against Tong Sang were a move by Flosse to regain the presidency. Flosse's critics bolstered their charges against Flosse when it was revealed that Flosse had held "secret talks" with Oscar Temaru, a leading pro-independence politician who has been Flosse's long time political opponent in the past. According to reports, the talks were aimed at ousting Tong Sang from office and setting up a unity platform between Flosse and Temaru's respective political parties.
A no confidence motion was introduced by Temaru's Union for Democracy (UPLD) party on Wednesday, August 29, 2007. The UPLD said that the no cofidence motion against Tong Sang was based on the fact that he had only small support in Parliament and that he had lost his legitimacy to govern. Tong Sang's own Tahoeraa Huiraatira party asked President Tong Sang to resign ahead of the vote of no confidence against him. Tong Sang refused the calls from his party to step down.
Gaston Tong Sang was removed from office and his government fell after a vote of no confidence on August 31, 2007. The motion of no confidence was passed by French Polynesia's 57 member Parliament. The motion against Tong Sang was passed by a majority 35 members of Parliament, including some members of Tong Sang's own Tahoera'a Huiraatira party. Tong Sang had tried to save his government by offering Tahoer'a Huiraatira 7 ministerial posts. The party refused.
The motion against Tong Sang was the first time that Oscar Temaru's Unity for Democracy Party and Gaston Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira party had formed a defacto alliance
Alliance
An alliance is an agreement or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests.See also military alliance and business alliance.-International relations:...
to oust a sitting French Polynesian government.
Tong Sang continued on as part of a caretaker government
Caretaker government
Caretaker government is a type of government that rules temporarily. A caretaker government is often set up following a war until stable democratic rule can be restored, or installed, in which case it is often referred to as a provisional government...
position until new elections were held on September 10, 2007.
The Tong Sang government was the third French Polynesian government to fall to motions of no confidence in the preceding three years, prompting calls for reform.
On September 14, 2007, Temaru was elected as President of French Polynesia for the third time in three years, replacing Tong Sang.
Tong Sang subsequently founded a new party, O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
‘O Pōrīnetia To Tātou ‘Ai‘a is a French Polynesian anti-independence political party founded by Gaston Tong Sang on 1 October 2007 after he split from his former party, the Tāhō‘ēra‘a Huira‘atira...
, on 1 October 2007.
On 15 April 2008 Tong Sang again became President following a no confidence motion against the government of 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:...
. He resigned again on 8 February 2009, and 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...
became president again after beating Tong Sang in the presidential election
French Polynesian presidential election, 2009
An indirect presidential election was held in French Polynesia on 11 February 2009, after defections from the ruling pro-autonomy faction and a scheduled constructive vote of no confidence planned for 12 February 2009 caused the incumbent Gaston Tong Sang to step down on 7 February 2009.This...
on 12 February 2009.
He became president again on 25 November 2009 after Temaru fell in a vote of no confidence. He fell to a vote of no confidence himself on 1 April 2011.