FRENCH POLYNESIA: Gaston Flosse becomes president
Updated
French Polynesia has a new President. Gaston Flosse, is back after a surprise twist in the Presidential ballot.
Presenter: Sandrine Ducrot
Speakers: French Polynesian president Gaston Flosse; Gaston Tong Sang
DUCROT: After several weeks of uncertainty Gaston Flosse managed to secure the Presidency of French Polynesia. This result is a big surprise as the Tahuirra Huiratiraa, arrived third in the general election two weeks ago, with only 17% of the votes. On Saturday morning, Gaston Flosse, from the autonomist party the Tahuira'a Huiraatira, secured 29 votes against 27 for Gaston Tong Sang of To Tatou Aia, the other autonomist party. Oscar Temaru, the former President, from the pro-independence party, the Union for Democracy, had decided not to run.
Gaston Flosse promised to open his government to the two other parties. Ren� Ko-hu-moetini, member of the Assembly for the Tahuirra says the focus is now on the development of French Polynesia. But working altogether could be a hard task. Gaston Tong Sang of the To Tatou Aia, previously negotiated with the Tahoera'a, the other pro-autonomy party. But these negotiations were not enough to secure the votes of Tahuira'a. It withdrew its support to Gaston Tong Sang and decided to vote for its own candidate, Gaston Flosse, who later was elected President of French Polynesia with the support of Oscar Temaru's pro-independence party. Gaston Tong Sang says The Tahoera'a did not stay true to their word.
TONG SANG: During the election for the President of the French Polynesia Assembly, we agreed to vote for Edouard Fritch, the Tahoera'a candidate. We had the word and the trust of the Tahoera'a and we thought that they would vote for us in return for the Presidency of French Polynesia, as we received massive support from the population in the last general election.
The Tohera'a and the To Tatou Aia both defends the autonomy for French Polynesia, which is its current status. On the other hand, the Union for Democracy is pro-independence and doesn't share the same political convictions as us. I feel the Tahoera'a did not stay true to their word. And when you don't stay true to your word, you must do something other than politics. Now I am afraid people won't trust their representatives anymore. It is all politicians who will be discredited by the taking of such disgraceful positions.
DUCROT: The composition of Gaston Flosse's new government will be known within 5 days.
