Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

New political group launched ahead of French Polynesia poll

Posted at 23:22 on 01 February, 2013 UTC

A new political group has been formed in French Polynesia incorporating the To Tatou Aia and the leaders of several small parties in the lead-up to the elections in April.

The A Tia Porinetia has been launched in Papeete by Teva Rohfritsch, who was the economics minister until he was sacked two years ago.

He quit the assembly but was an unsuccessful candidate in last year’s election of a new French National Assembly.

The publisher of the Tahiti Pacifique monthly, Alex du Prel, says the new electoral system has prompted small parties to join forces, reuniting many of the former Tahoeraa Huiraatira politicians.

“He is a pure product of Mr Flosse because he used to be with the Tahoeraa at the beginning and then he was the hero of Mr Tong Sang, which was a government constantly riddled by blackmail. We’ll see if he kept his credibility or if people wil put him into the category of worn-out politicians.”

Alex du Prel says the next few weeks will show if the group can remain united.