Legislative elections were held in French Polynesia on 16 and 30 April 2023 to elect 57 representatives of the Assembly. The last election was in 2018.
The pro-autonomist Tāpura Huiraʻatira government, led by President Édouard Fritch, sought to win a second consecutive full term, but was defeated by the pro-separatist Tāvini Huiraʻatira opposition, led by former President Oscar Temaru, in a landslide. The Tāvini Huiraʻatira party won 38 of the 57 seats. Following the election, Moetai Brotherson, Tāvini Huiraʻatira's deputy leader, was elected President of French Polynesia by 38 votes against 16 for Fritch and 3 for pro-autonomist Nicole Sanquer of A here ia Porinetia.
Background.
The 2018 French Polynesian legislative election saw the Tāpura Huiraʻatira party led by Édouard Fritch emerge as the largest in the Assembly, winning 38 of the 57 seats. Fritch was re-elected as President of French Polynesia, while former President Gaston Tong Sang was elected President of the Assembly.
French Polynesia has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Electoral system.
The 57 members of the Assembly of French Polynesia are elected by a proportional multi-member list of two rounds, with a majority premium. Polynesia is a single constituency whose communes make up eight sub-divisions called sections, each with a majority premium of one to four seats according to their population, for a total of 19 premium seats.
Each list presents 73 candidates in the eight sections. Each list is composed alternately of a candidate of each sex. In the first round, the list having received an absolute majority of votes in its section is awarded the majority bonus, then the remaining seats are distributed proportionally among all the lists having crossed the electoral threshold of 5% of the votes according to the method of voting. If no list obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, a second round is held between all the lists having collected more than 12.5% of the votes, those having collected between 5% and 12.5% being able to merge with the lists that have been maintained. The leading list then gets the majority bonus, and the remaining seats are distributed proportionally under the same conditions.
The lists may be reimbursed for part of their campaign costs if they reach the threshold of 3% of the votes cast in the first round, provided that they comply with accounting transparency requirements and legislation on the format of documents.
Party participation.
Prior to the election Tapura leader Édouard Fritch obtained a court ruling that the two-term limit applied to whole terms, and that therefore he was eligible to be elected as president despite having served in the role for nine years.
After being inactive for 15 years, Here Ai'a announced on 21 January 2023 that it would contest the 2023 election, and that its program would focus on independence.
In February 2023 A here ia Porinetia named Nuihau Laurey as head of its list. It published its full list on 25 February 2023.
On 14 February 2023 Tamatoa Perez announced he would contest the elections with the Te reo manahune party.
On 10 March 2023 Tāvini Huiraʻatira announced that Moetai Brotherson would be their candidate for the presidency.
On 14 March 2023 Heiura-Les Verts became the first party to formally submit a party list. Tāvini Huiraʻatira, Tāpura Huiraʻatira, and A here ia Porinetia submitted their lists on 17 March. A total of seven lists were submitted. Here Ai'a and Te reo manahune did not submit a list.
Results.
Turnout in the first round declined, to 60.08%. Tāvini Huiraʻatira led in the first round with about 35% of the vote. Following the first round, Heiura-Les Verts and Hau Māʻohi both endorsed the Tāvini. The ʻĀmuitahiraʻa o te Nūnaʻa Māʻohi merged its list with Tāpura Huiraʻatira, forming a joint Union of Autonomists Against Independence. A here ia Porinetia announced that its presidential candidate would be Nicole Sanquer rather than Nuihau Laurey. Ia Ora te Nuna'a called on its voters to vote for either of the autonomist parties in the second round.
In second round on 30 April 2023 turnout was 69.96%. Pro independence party Tavini jumped to 38 seats from 8 seats in previous election. Pro autonomist Tapura got 15 seats, ally Amuitahira got 1 seat and A here ia got 3 seats. Pro independence Tavini got the majority first time in electoral history.
Following the election Antony Géros was elected President of the Assembly, with 41 votes in favour and 16 abstentions. Moetai Brotherson was elected President of French Polynesia, defeating Édouard Fritch 38 votes to 19.
References.
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