And in Polynesia, three duels to come between separatists and autonomists
The three constituencies of French Polynesia voted on Saturday for the first round of legislative elections, a week ahead of the metropolis. Results: three duels will oppose the separatists, supported by Nupes, and the autonomists of the local majority, supported by Ensemble!, in the second round, on June 18.
The candidates of Tapura Huiraatira, the party of Polynesian President Edouard Fritch, dominate the first two constituencies. The former Minister of Labor and Tourism, Nicole Bouteau (42.17%), will face in the second round a 21-year-old separatist, Tematai Le Gayic (19.61%) in the first constituency. In the second, the duel promises to be tighter between Tepuaraurii Teriitahi (33.21%), president of the Tapura group in the local assembly, and Steve Chailloux (28.78%), a young independentist intellectual. The outgoing independence MP Moetai Brotherson, who claims his affinities with LFI, is himself well placed to keep his seat in the third constituency. Winner of the first round (34.26%) he will face Tuterai Tumahai (32.04%), a candidate supported by Tapura Huiraatira but a novice in politics.
The party of former president Gaston Flosse, who has become a sovereigntist, failed to qualify a candidate in the second round, but remains the third political force. However, the election was marked by a very high abstention, over 50% in the three constituencies.