French Polynesian legislative election, 2008

Infobox Election
election_name = French Polynesian legislative election, 2008
country = French Polynesia
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = French Polynesian legislative election, 2004
previous_year = 2004
next_election = Next French Polynesian legislative election
next_year = Next
seats_for_election = All 57 seats to the Assembly of French Polynesia
election_date = January 27 and February 10, 2008


leader1 = Gaston Tong Sang
party1 = O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
leaders_seat1 = Bora-Bora
last_election1 = –
seats1 = 27
seat_change1 = –
popular_vote1 = 55,227
percentage1 = 41.19%


leader2 = Gaston Flosse
party2 = Union for a Popular Movement
leaders_seat2 = Pirae
last_election2 = 28 seats, 49.1%
seats2 = 20
seat_change2 = –8
popular_vote2 = 48,403
percentage2 = 36.10%
title = President
before_election = Oscar Temaru
before_party = Union for a Popular Movement
after_election = Gaston Flosse
after_party = Union for a Popular MovementAn early legislative election to the Assembly of French Polynesia was held in French Polynesia in early 2008. The first round of the election was held on 27 January 2008, with the second round held on 10 February 2008. [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iRQG0eLFTSC8ybgGgWFNYt24SUqw "Polynésie: premier tour des élections le 27 janvier"] , AFP (Google.com), 10 November 2007 fr icon.] [ [http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/12/21/french-polynesia-still-without-2008-budget "French Polynesia Still Without 2008 Budget"] , "Pacific Magazine", 22 December 2007.] The early elections was the first one to be conducted under a reformed electoral system.

New electoral system

The new system, approved in France on 26 November 2007, was meant to stabilise the chaotic French Polynesian political scene. [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=34485 Rautahi Party against change of French Polynesian electoral system] , "Radio New Zealand International"; 17 August 2007] [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=34534 Paris talks to chart path for French Polynesian politics] , "Radio New Zealand International"; 20 August 2007] [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=34831 French Polynesia to have fresh election under new electoral system] , "Radio New Zealand International"; 2 September 2007] Under the new system, a two-round election system was promulgated [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=35393 Temaru afraid of going to polls, says French Polynesian opposition] , "Radio New Zealand International"; 26 September 2007] , and candidates from any political party require at least 12.5% of the vote to enter the second round of voting, and a general electoral threshold of 5% was set. [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gWuGHCNCPj6yjkVnYxnsfTB9eX3Q "Textes sur la stabilité politique en Polynésie adoptés, vives critiques PS"] , AFP (Google.com), 23 November 2007 fr icon.] .

Events leading up to the election

2007 political crisis

In July of 2007, Former French Polynesian President Gaston Tong Sang was heavily criticized by Gaston Flosse, former President and the founder of Tong Sang's party, Tahoeraa Huiraatira. Flosse 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. cite news |first=|last=|title= Tong Sang Asked To Resign By Own Party |url= http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/08/30/tong-sang-asked-to-resign-by-own-party|work= Pacific Magazine |publisher= |date=2007-08-30 |accessdate=2007-09-01 ] Critics of Flosse asserted that the attack was merely a move by Flosse to regain the presidency, an accusation bolstered by revealations that Flosse had "secret talks" with Oscar Temaru, former President and 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 Sang from office and setting up a unity platform between Flosse and Temaru's respective political parties.

On 29 August 2007, a no confidence motion was introduced by Temaru's Union for Democracy (UPLD). The UPLD said that the no cofidence motion against Tong Sang was based on the fact that he had only small support in the Assembly, thus losing his legitimacy to govern. Tong Sang's own Tahoeraa Huiraatira party asked him to resign ahead of the vote of no confidence against him. Tong Sang refused the calls from his party to step down.

Tong Sang's government fell after the vote of no confidence was passed by French Polynesia's 57 member Assembly on August 31. The motion Sang was passed by a majority 35 members of the Assembly, including some members of the governing Tahoera'a Huiraatira party. cite news |first=|last=|title= Tong Sang Out On No Confidence Vote |url= http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/09/01/tong-sang-out-on-no-confidence-vote|work= Pacific Magazine |publisher= |date=2007-09-01 |accessdate=2007-09-01 ] Tong Sang tried to save his government by offering Tahoer'a Huiraatira 7 ministerial posts. The deal was refused.

The motion against Tong Sang was the first time that Oscar Temaru's Union for Democracy and Gaston Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira party formed a de-facto alliance to oust a sitting French Polynesian government.

Post-crisis

After his ouster from government, Gaston Tong Sang left Tahoera'a Huiraatira and founded a new party, O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a. [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=35457 Ousted French Polynesia president forms new party] , "Radio New Zealand International"; 30 September 2007] The new party, from the onset, had 6 members in the Assembly, all former members of Tahoera'a Huiraatira.

After Tong Sang's ouster, which was the third time a French Polynesian government was ousted from power via motions of no confidence since 2004, calls for electoral reform were heard. This culminated in a electoral reform package that was passed by France in November of the same year.

After elections were announced, President of French Polynesia Oscar Temaru stated that he would prefer to have elections after the French municipal elections in March 2008. [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=35134 French Polynesian call to defer planned early elections] , "Radio New Zealand International"; 16 September 2007]

Election results

Coalition negotiations

According to reports, the two pro-autonomy/anti-independence factions are likely to agree to form the government for the next five years; they are currently in coalition talks. [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38026 Pro-autonomy parties in French Polynesia to meet in two days to try and form governing majority ] ] The talks broke down on 20 February 2008. The President of the Assembly was decided to be elected on 22 February 2008, with presidential elections in the Assembly to follow on 24 February 2008. [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38148 France comments on Tahiti impasse, presidential elections in four days ] ]

In the election for the President of the Assembly, the incumbent Edouard Fritch was reelected cite news |first=|last=|title=Fritch Re-elected Speaker of French Polynesia's Legislative Assembly |url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/02/22/fritch-re-elected-speaker-of-french-polynesias-legislative-assembly |work= Ocean Flash |publisher=Pacific Magazine |date=2008-02-22 |accessdate=2008-02-22] with 36 votes while the pro-independence candidate Antony Géros received 21 votes; one of the 37 pro-autonomy MPs had therefore evidently voted for Géros. [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38180 Edouard Fritch re-elected as French Polynesia assembly president ] ]

External links

* [http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/01/30/tong-sang-wins-first-round-of-french-polynesia-voting Pacific Magazine: Tong Sang Wins First Round Of French Polynesia Voting]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7256196.stm BBC News: Colonial ties dominate Polynesia polls ]

References