Polynesians are called to the polls on Sunday to renew their Assembly. The separatists could make a breakthrough in the archipelagos.
Will the political future of French Polynesia change in the spring of 2023? The inhabitants of the five archipelagos, made up of 118 islands, are called to the polls on Sunday April 16 for the first round of territorial elections. Renewed at the end of the second round, Sunday April 30, the Assembly of Polynesia, an autonomous legislative body, will have to appoint the next president of this overseas community. Franceinfo explains why, 16,000 km from France, these territorial elections are decisive for the future of French Polynesia.
Why do Polynesians vote?
On Sundays April 16 and 30, voters in French Polynesia vote for the territorial elections of this French overseas community with special status. During this two-round ballot, voters must appoint for five years the new members of the Assembly of French Polynesia, a chamber composed of 57 elected officials. “These elected officials then elect the President of the Assembly, then the President of Polynesia, who is the keystone of the institutions”, explains Sémir Al Wardi, a political scientist specializing in this overseas community.
In this autonomous territory, local institutions exercise significant power. “Autonomy generates expanded powers and common law competence is reversed: the State is given some powers, such as sovereign matters [justice, défense, politique étrangère, sécurité…] and all the rest is necessarily of Polynesian attribution”, explains Arnaud Busseuil, doctor of public law.
The representatives of the local Assembly notably draw up what are called the “laws of the land”, which fall within the domain of the law. The President of Polynesia plays a leading role. “He has more powerful levers than a president of a regional council. For five years, he decides everything in Polynesia”roughly sums up Semir Al Wardi.
Which political parties are in the running for this election?
There are currently two major political forces in the Polynesian landscape: the separatists of Tapura and the separatists of Tavini. The archipelagos have been ruled by the autonomists since 2014, when Edouard Fritch, a former protege of Gaston Flosse, came to power. At 71, he is also standing for a third and final term, but his party, which supports Emmanuel Macron, has been divided for several years. Some dissidents have decided to bring their own list to the territorial elections, which could weaken the Tapura. “This will divide the votes that could go to the autonomists”anticipates Arnaud Busseuil.
Opposite, the separatists of Tavini, led by former president Oscar Temaru, want to take advantage of the divisions of their opponents to bring the deputy Moetai Brotherson, member of Nupes, to the office of president of French Polynesia.
Why is this election important for the future of these archipelagos?
This year, “the election is particularly uncertain and that gives renewed enthusiasm to political life”, exposes Arnaud Busseuil. The autonomists in power, in addition to their internal divisions, emerged “unpopular of the health crisis”continues the professor, joined by Semir Al Wardi.
“The power in place made mistakes that were badly experienced by the Polynesians, who reproached him for not respecting the laws he imposed on the population. A certain resentment remained.”
Sémir Al Wardi, political scientist specializing in French Polynesiaat franceinfo
On the other side, the separatists want to regain power, which they abandoned in 2013 at the end of Oscar Temaru’s mandate. Tavini hopes to repeat its performance in the legislative elections of June 2022, when it won its duels against the autonomists in the three constituencies of the archipelagos.
“In 2022, the separatists had not campaigned on independence, but on socio-economic issues, which is quite innovative. They are continuing in this direction this year.”
Arnaud Busseuilprofessor of public law
If they won, would the supporters of Moetai Brotherson dare to openly engage this overseas territory on the road to independence? “When they were in power, the separatists did not change the statutes of French Polynesia. Today, this is not a discourse that comes back locally. And we note a form of attenuation on this questionemphasizes Arnaud Busseuil. In the short term, there is little chance of seeing the status of the community evolve, because those responsible are much more in a relationship of trust with France.
“They are demonized and have watered down their wine. The Tavini no longer qualifies the state as ‘colonial’ but considers it a partner”, abounds Semir Al Wardi. If independence remains a long-term objective, “the differences between soft separatists and hard separatists are tenuous”.
How does the voting take place?
For these territorial elections, the archipelagos, populated by approximately 280,000 inhabitants, are divided into eight sections, three of which are located on the island of Tahiti alone (which has 190,000 inhabitants). In the first round, in each section, if one of the seven lists in the running wins, it benefits from a majority bonus, with the rest of the seats proportionally distributed. To qualify for the second round, you must collect at least 12.5% of the votes. Between 5% and 12.5%, a list can merge with another. “The objective is to have a massive vote, from the first round precisely, so that the population comes to express themselves, and to have the best turnout from the first round”declared to Polynésie La 1ère the autonomist of Tapura Tepuaraurii Teriitahi.
But beware of false pretences: in French Polynesia, after the second round, everything is not settled. Negotiations often take place between the different parties to appoint the president and his executive, which emanates directly from the Assembly. “It’s a real third round”warns Arnaud Busseuil about these discussions. And sometimes surprises can happen. “In 2008, it was the candidate who came third who found himself president of Polynesia”he illustrates.
What are the main themes addressed in this campaign?
“There was a lot of talk about public services, with the challenge of bringing them closer to the population”, observes Arnaud Busseuil about these dozens of islands little or badly served by transport, with a significant digital divide. This is also found in employment issues. “The unemployment rate is high and the Tavini is trying to position itself on these issues. The poverty rate is also very high, with inequalities that are almost the same as Brazil”laments the professor.
On the other hand, the relationship to nuclear power is relatively consensual today. The separatist and separatist lists agree on the need to compensate Polynesians for the consequences of the nuclear tests carried out by Paris between 1966 and 1996.
And the relationship to the central power of France? “Before, we positioned ourselves in relation to France, whether we were separatists or separatists. Today, this discourse is taking a back seat. We are moving towards a classic antagonism that we find in many democracies”concludes Semir Al Wardi.