New President fails to form grand coalition
Updated
French Polynesia's new president Gaston Tong Sang has formed a new government which is supposed to be in place for five years. Last week, he returned to the Presidency after his party , To Tatou Ai'a , won a no confidence motion which brought down Gaston Flosse's government. The French Polynesian president had called on Mr Flosse and pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru's parties to join forces with him, but that offer was rejected.
Presenter: Sandrine Ducrot
Speakers:French Polynesia's new vice-president, Jules Ienfa; Claude Marere, spokesman for the pro-independence Union for Democracy
DUCROT: The idea of creating a large coalition government has failed in French Polynesia.
Last week, just after been sworn in, Gaston Tong Sang made it clear he wanted to open up his government.
So members of Mr Flosse's party, the Tahoera'a Hoeraatira and representatives of Mr Temaru's pro-independence Union for Democracy were invited to join forces with the To Tatou Ai'a.
However, this weekend, the Tahoera'a and the Union for Democracy rejected the offer.
Jules Ienfa is French Polynesia's new vice-president and spokesman for the government.
JULES IENFA: The coalition between the Tahoera'a and the Union for Democracy has refused Mr Tong Sang's offer. However, Mrs Armelle Merceron, who is linked to the Tahoera'a has decided to participate in the government.
DUCROT: Mrs Merceron is the new Housing and Solidarity minister.
She was originally a member of Mr Flosse's party but didn't agree on forming a coalition with Mr Temaru's pro-independence party.
Since then, she has distanced herself from the Tahoera'a which said it was deeply disappointed that she joined the new government.
Claude Marere , spokesman for the pro-independence Union for Democracy party says he was surprised by Mr Tong Sang's offer.
CLAUDE MARERE: When Oscar Temaru called other political parties to join forces with him, the only one to answer was Mr Flosse. More recently, when Mr Flosse became President, he also made this call. Mr Tong Sang has never answered these calls.
DUCROT: Mr Marere says he doesn't believe Mr Tong Sang's offer was genuine.
CLAUDE MARERE: He convinced two of our representatives to change allegiance. With a very weak majority of 29 out of 57 representatives in the Assembly, he then decided to bring our government down. After that, he asks us to make peace and to work together? It is quite hard to swallow!
DUCROT: Mr Marere also says To Tatou Ai'a's compromise did not go far enough to convince Oscar Temaru's party.
CLAUDE MARERE: Offering us two ministries while we have 27 representatives at the Assembly was not fair at all. If he really wanted us to work together, he would have accepted our proposition of seven ministries for us and 8 for the To Tatou Ai'a. It was not an honest offer.
DUCROT: 14 ministries make up the current government.
But Mr Tong Sang has announced a 15th could be created if a pro-independence party's member decided to join forces with him.
The government will supposedly be in place for 5 years, but with a fragile majority, Mr Tong sang's challenge to re-establish political stability in French Polynesia is a difficult one.
Mr Ienfa says the new government's priority is to restore trust.
JULES IENFA: Our role is to bring back confidence amongst economic and social partners and also to France. It is the only solution to boost French Polynesia's economy.
DOCROT: Trust will also be essential as another affair has sparked off fierce ethnic debate.
Last week, two union leaders said they were afraid that French Polynesia will be lead by an Asian, referring to the Chinese origins of Mr. Tong Sang.
Mr Ienfa says these comments are sad.
JULES IENFA: This debate is out of place. We live in a multi-ethnic society in French Polynesia and that's our strength. Anyway, what we just ask to leaders is to be loyal, honest, and competent.
