Political Reviews

0LFURQHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV-XO\ WR-XQH david w kupferman, kelly g marsh, donald r shuster, tyrone j taitano

3RO\QHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV-XO\ WR-XQH lorenz gonschor, hapakuke pierre leleivai, margaret mutu, forrest wade young

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5HYLHZVRI$PHULFDQ6ëPRD&RRN controversies over two projects of the Islands, Hawai‘i, Niue, Tokelau, new government: a bill to reform the Tonga, and Tuvalu are not included country’s land legislation and a reso- in this issue. lution to reinscribe the territory on the United Nations List of Non-Self- French Governing Territories (nsgts). During the period under review, politi- A bill for a loi de pays (country cal stability slightly improved as, for law, ie, an act of the the first time in many years, no change Assembly with legal standing slightly in government took place and no lower than French national law) to attempt was made to overthrow the regulate the acquisition of landed current one through a no-confidence property by the country government motion. However, the severe eco- in the case of a landowner dying nomic crisis partly caused by years of without heirs met with strong negative instability continued, and no major reactions as soon as it was introduced changes in financial and economic in the assembly in mid-August. The policy to improve the situation appear bill’s opponents—led by heir to the to be in sight. On the other hand, Tahitian royal family Teriihinoiatua there were significant advances in the Joinville Pomare, land rights activist international plea for the country’s Monil Tetuanui, and assembly mem- decolonization by the current govern- bers Sandra Manutahi Lévy-Agami ment under President . and Sabrina Birk—accused Temaru’s At the end of the review period, a government of attempting to acquire change of the executive government private lands in order to resell them and legislative majority in took for profit (tp, 16 Aug, 19 Aug 2011). place, with the prospect of a new deal Despite reassurances by Vice President in relations between Paris and Antony Geros that the bill would not in the near future. At the same time, be less favorable to landowning fami- a comeback of and his lies than the current legal situation party is happening in local politics, (tp, 7 Aug 2011), the protests went as shown in their surprise win of the on and eventually led to an indefinite elections for local representatives in postponement of the bill (TPM, Sept the French National Assembly. 2011), even though the issue later With Temaru’s coalition govern- reemerged, with Pomare accusing the ment of his own Union Pour La upld of “neo-colonialism” (DT, 2 Nov Démocratie (upld) and the outer 2011). islands party Te Mana O Te Mau The main focus of Temaru’s gov- Motu (tmmm) in power since April ernment throughout the review period, 2011, the review period started with however, was to pursue the country’s

151 152 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) reinscription on the UN List of Non- representatives had been elected on Self-Governing Territories. For the pro-French lists and had only recently last six decades, the absence of French crossed the floor and therefore lacked Polynesia from that list, having been the mandate to vote for the country’s unilaterally removed by France in decolonization (tp, 22 Aug 2011). 1947, has represented a great anomaly This line of argument is rather absurd in the Pacific, since virtually all other and hypocritical since, first of all, in dependent territories in the Pacific a representative democracy members have been listed. of Parliament are free to change their On 18 August, after passion- opinions on issues and, second, all ate debates, the assembly adopted a three opposition parties had earlier resolution asking the French president been part of Temaru-led coalition gov- to reverse the removal of the terri- ernments and found nothing wrong tory from the list. The vote for the with working under a pro-indepen- resolution was a historic moment in dence president as long as it gained the country’s history, since French them ministerial portfolios. Poly nesia’s government now for the More reasonable in her approach first time had received an explicit was tmmm representative Eléanor mandate to pursue decolonization on Parker, who in her speech identi- an international level. The decoloniza- fied herself as an opponent of inde- tion issue had always been the fracture pendence but argued that only a point in Temaru’s earlier governing decolonization process under UN coalitions, since they included anti- oversight could guarantee a reasonable independence politicians who accused debate on the topic and a fair vote of Temaru of breaking assurances of self-determination, without fear of neutrality on the independence ques- manipulation by the French govern- tion made in coalition agreements. ment (tp, 18 Aug 2011). In that sense, This time, however, Temaru had made it is indeed difficult to understand support for reinscription an explicit what local pro-French leaders fear precondition for any coalition agree- from the territory’s re-listing as a non- ment, so it passed rather smoothly self-governing territory, since listing with support from all but one (who does not imply independence unless abstained) of the thirty-one member expressly wished for by the popula- upld-tmmm majority (tp, 18 Aug tion. The only rational motivation for 2011). those ferociously opposed to reinscrip- On the other hand, members of the tion might be the fact that almost all three opposition caucuses—Tahoeraa of them were members and associates Huiraatira (leader Gaston Flosse), of the corrupt and authoritarian Flosse To Tatou Aia (), government before 2004 (see below), and Ia Ora Te Fenua (Jean-Christophe and one could assume they might Bouissou)—reacted with fierce hos- worry about the country being too tility bordering on hysteria. Among thoroughly audited and examined by other issues, opposition leaders argued a neutral outside body such as the UN that the resolution was not legiti- decolonization committee. mate because several of the tmmm The assembly’s resolution had political reviews ‡ polynesia 153 broad repercussions across the Pacific. passage referring to French Polynesia The Pacific Conference of Churches, in the 2012 Forum Final Communiqué at its fiftieth annual reunion in Apia, was visibly reduced from what was 6ëPRDLQWKHSUHVHQFHRI3UHVLGHQW originally expected. Instead of sup- Temaru, passed a resolution support- porting reinscription, the communiqué ing French Polynesia’s reinscription merely mentions recalling the Forum’s (tp, 29 Aug 2011). Similarly, Fijian “2004 decision to support the prin- interim Prime Minister Voreqe Baini- ciple of French Polynesia’s right to marama declared himself in favor self-determination” and reiterates an of reinscription during the second “encouragement to French Polynesia “Engaging with the Pacific” meeting and France to seek an agreed approach in Nadi, Fiji, on 1–2 September. With on how to realise French Polynesia’s Senator Richard Ariihau Tuheiava right to self-determination” (Pacific attending as Temaru’s special envoy, Islands Forum 2011, 11). Since, the Final Communiqué of the meet- unlike in , France has ing includes a resolution in favor of refused for decades to such an “agreed reinscription, which besides those approach” for French Polynesia, the of Fiji and French Polynesia, carries passage in the Forum Communiqué signatures representing the govern- sounds rather ironic. ments of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, A crucial factor in the absence of Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, strong pif backing was the lack of Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru, the support from New Zealand and Aus- Marshall Islands, and the Federated tralia, both of which have abandoned States of Micronesia (Government of their once strong espousal of decolo- Fiji 2011). nization of French territories and are The French government, on the now increasingly cooperating with other hand, showed itself to be hostile France in political and military mat- toward reinscription and started a ters. Australian Parliamentary Secre- vigorous campaign before the annual tary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Marles later reiterated that his govern- (pif) on 7–8 September in Auckland, ment only supports a bilateral process Aotearoa/New Zealand, in order to between Paris and Papeete but no rein- lobby Forum member states into drop- scription at the UN level (abc Radio ping or watering down the proposal. Australia, 17 April 2012). Apparently alarmed by Temaru’s Despite the disappointing outcome obtaining increasing support for of the pif meeting, individual Pacific reinscription Pacific-wide, Paris for Island states continued to support the first time sent its foreign minister, French Polynesia more intensively. In Alain Juppé, to attend the Forum as late September, the prime ministers an observer alongside a delegation of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, including Gaston Tong Sang. Meltek Sato Kilman Lituvanu and Despite Temaru’s and Tuheiava’s Danny Philip, demanded the country’s efforts as official representatives of reinscription in their speeches on the their country, French lobbying proved floor of the UN General Assembly at least partially successful, since the (Kilman Lituvanu 2011; Philip 2011), 154 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

DQG6ëPRDªV3ULPH0LQLVWHU7XLODHSD the 239 billion cfp francs spent in Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi allowed 2009. Temaru and Tuheiava to be included In September, the French and in the Samoan UN Delegation. Within territorial governments formally the UN organization, no less than announced the construction of a Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had second prison on the south shore of shown genuine interest in Temaru’s , the current one in Nuutania quest for reinscription while attending in being run down and heav- the Auckland pif meeting (tp, 7 Sept ily overcrowded. The project, at an 2011). estimated cost of 8 billion cfp francs While politics focused on these (us$80 million), is fraught with important issues relating to the controversy, especially in the district international political status and of Papeari where the complex is to be long-term development goals of the built. In an editorial comment, Tahiti country, urgent domestic reforms Pacifique editor Alex DuPrel semi- were neglected and the local economy jokingly argued that “the fact that the remained in a precarious state, with construction of a prison is currently no recovery in sight. Due to the logic the only large building project under of clientele politics, no serious reform way in Tahiti could be interpreted as of the overstaffed and overpaid territo- rather symbolic,” while the issue’s rial administration has been attempted headline dubbed French Polynesia by any previous governments, and the the “Greece of the Pacific,” in refer- upld is no exception, despite its noble ence to the current severe financial goals of decolonization. The inaction crisis in the European country (TPM, of the country’s government in that Oct 2011). Shortly after the prison respect caused the French national announcement, Tahiti’s infrastructure government to enact some reforms in received a significant improvement; a its stead and implement them from tunnel bypassing the coastal cliffs at above. For instance, on 30 June 2011, Arahoho Blowhole, hitherto passable the French National Assembly voted only through a narrow winding road to reduce the salaries of French Poly- that had been a hot spot for traffic nesia Assembly representatives by 10 accidents, was opened in mid-October percent after the local assembly had (tp, 11 Oct 2011). refused to follow earlier recommenda- Also in October, the topic of post- tions to do so (TPM, Aug 2011). colonial nation building once more While forcing some cuts in the terri- filled the headlines when President torial administration, the French State Temaru suggested using the primary also reduced the amounts of money elections of the French directly injected into the country. (of which Temaru’s , According to a press release by the the chief component of the upld, is French High Commission, the amount the local partner) as an unofficial ref- of money France spent in 2010 within erendum to change the country’s name French Polynesia amounted to 179 bil- from French Polynesia to “Maohi lion cfp francs (US$1.79 billion) (TPM, Nui” (Greater Maohi, referring to the Aug 2011), a significant decrease from Tahitian term for native Polynesian). political reviews ‡ polynesia 155

Already during the pif meeting in other islands any importance, but at August, Temaru had designated him- a closer look, “Maohi Nui” is hardly self as “President of Maohi Nui.” The less problematic. Even though from president’s suggested name change a Tahitian point of view inclusive of sparked an intense debate and led once other , it is nevertheless more to the pro-French opposition also a Tahiti-centric term, since the bringing forward all sorts of charges word “Maohi” is uniquely Tahitian against the president, including alleged and not found in many of the outer racism since the term “Maohi Nui” islands languages. Overall, “Tahiti would supposedly exclude non-Poly- Nui” appears more preferable, since nesians (tp, 4 Oct, 7 Oct 2011). it has already been used in the names “French Polynesia” is, of course, of several semi-governmental institu- an anachronistic colonial name, akin tions, such as the country’s airline (Air to such obsolete entities as “French Tahiti Nui) and TV station (Tahiti Nui Indochina,” “British East Africa,” or Television), as well as the national “Netherlands Indies.” In addition, anthem (“Ia Ora O Tahiti Nui”) and the name is imprecise since there are order of merit (). other Polynesian islands under French While it was initially championed rule not included in the territory (ie, only by Gaston Flosse, during the Wallis and Futuna). The name “French middle of the past decade there was a Polynesia” was imposed by Paris short-lived consensus on “Tahiti Nui” in 1957 to replace the earlier name when Temaru for a while settled for “French Establishments of Oceania” that name as well. In addition, of all against the will of local leaders at the suggested names, “Tahiti Nui” is the time. Given these facts, a change of most internationally recognizable, an the country’s official name is over- important factor for a largely tourism- due. However, one of the problems based economy. In terms of name is that French Polynesia, unlike most recognition, “Tahiti Nui” actually other modern Polynesian polities, is scores higher than “French Polyne- an artificial entity created through sia”—most tourists vacationing in French colonization that does not “Tahiti” only learn of the existence of correspond to any precolonial politi- the name “French Polynesia” at immi- cal, cultural, or linguistic unit and, gration—and it scores far higher than therefore, there is no original native the rather obscure “Maohi Nui.” name for the entire country. While the While “Maohi Nui” might be majority of local politicians in 1957 impractical internationally, making opposed “French Polynesia” and sug- charges that the term is “racist” is gested to simply rename the territory very much baseless. It remains unclear “Tahiti” (Regnault 2006, 200–204), what would be racist about replac- the most common suggestions for ing a colonial name with one in a a name change in recent times have native language referring to the native been “Tahiti Nui” (Greater Tahiti) people, a practice that has been com- and “Maohi Nui.” “Tahiti Nui” has mon in processes of decolonization been criticized as too Tahiti-centric, as elsewhere, often long before actual it could be construed as denying the independence. 156 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

While the debate on the name found the budget plan Gaston Tong change went on—albeit with no Sang had attempted to enact by decree substantial consequences, since an in February of 2011 to be unconstitu- official name change would require tional. The decision had no immediate a complex French legislative process effect, since the government has since (tp, 4 Oct 2011)—attention focused changed, but it increased Temaru’s again on former President Gaston legitimacy by denouncing his predeces- Flosse’s troubles with the law. In early sor’s handling of the country’s finan- October, Flosse was sentenced to four cial affairs (pir, 28 Oct 2011). years in jail for the so-called fictional Meanwhile, Senator Tuheiava is employments affair, while several emerging as a new leader in local poli- of his former associates, including tics. Over the last few years, Tuheiava leading politicians such as Jean- has increasingly become one of the Christophe Bouissou, Justin Arapari, public faces of the upld, besides Bruno Sandras, and Michel Buillard, Temaru and his longtime lieutenants were sentenced to prison or suspended such as Jacqui Drollet and Antony prison sentences and high fines (tp, Geros. In October, Tahiti-based French 4 Oct 2011). During his presidency journalist Serge Massau published a between 1991 and 2004, Flosse had book of collected interviews with the employed the codefendants at the senator (the youngest in the entire president’s office as “consultants,” or French ) and his innovative “task officers,” for which they were political ideas (Massau 2011). In paid high salaries, while in reality Paroles d’un autochtone (Words of none of them ever worked there. All an indigenous man), Tuheiava pres- of them filed appeals, so the trial will ents his long-term social and political drag on for a long time and none of visions of sovereignty (preferring that them will go to jail unless and until word over “independence”), indig- their sentences are confirmed by the enous rights, and pan-Pacific solidar- appellate court. ity. In the latter respect, Tuheiava has Another notoriously corrupt been indeed very active, promoting politician, Emile Vernaudon, who had the inscription of Raiatea’s Marae previously been convicted of mas- Taputapuatea (a historic temple of sive embezzlement of public funds, great significance throughout East- was released from prison in the first ern Polynesia) on unesco’s World week of June (TPM, June–July 2012). Heritage List, while also actively Vernaudon was the first local politi- supporting the rights of other Poly- cian in a long time to actually serve a nesian countries under foreign rule, long prison sentence for corruption, such as Rapa Nui during the violent and one can only hope that his case crackdown by Chilean forces on the will serve as a precedent for the vari- island’s people in 2010. ous other corruption cases currently In the same context, on 29 Septem- ongoing. ber, Tuheiava posed an official ques- Another judicial controversy was tion to French Prime Minister François resolved in late October, when the Fillon about the legal status of rela- French Council of State (highest court) tions between France and Hawai‘i. political reviews ‡ polynesia 157

Since Hawai‘i was not acquired by and traditionalists, was dedicated in the United States in conformity with front of the town hall by a group of international law through a treaty political leaders (tp, 12 Nov 2011). As of annexation but was unilaterally the leader of resistance against both occupied in 1898, and previous execu- Christianization and Pomare hege- tive agreements between the Hawaiian mony, Opuhara is regarded as a hero Kingdom and the United States were by movements to revive the traditional never carried out, the current legal religion as well as by Pomare critics, status of the international treaties thus making the ceremony, attended between Hawai‘i and third countries, by practicing Christians and Pomare none of which were ever formally descendants, a symbolic gesture of terminated, is unclear. In his writ- reconciliation between the two reli- ten question, Tuheiava referred to a gions and between rival lineages. treaty made in 1857 between French Late November also saw the re- Emperor Napoleon III and Hawaiian dedication of historic St Michael’s King Kamehameha IV, referring to the Cathedral on Mangareva, the largest importance of clarifying the status of nineteenth-century church building that treaty for French Polynesia, since and one of the oldest in the Pacific. Hawai‘i is an important economic Built in 1846 with a length of 55 partner for the country today, as it meters and a steeple height of 25 was in the 1850s when Tahiti was a meters, the historic monument had French Protectorate (Government of fallen into disrepair by the early 2000s France 2011). and was threatened with collapse. The While engaged in assisting his own restoration, which began in 2008, and other Polynesian countries under cost 537 million cfp francs (us$5.4 foreign rule, Tuheiava also came under million) and was jointly funded by the attack for questionable dealings in his Catholic Church, the French State, the profession as a lawyer. In mid-March government of French Polynesia, and 2012, a judicial indictment against private donors (TPM, Dec 2011; tp, the senator was initiated, charging 12 Nov 2011). him with breach of trust, forgery, and Around the same time, another use of forgeries, as he was accused political controversy gained attention of taking payment from clients but when Jean-Paul Barral, a long-term not properly serving them. Tuheiava, independence activist, high school however, considered this a politically teacher, and government official, motivated conspiracy attempting to resigned in disgust from his office as remove him from office because of advisor to assembly Speaker Jacqui his pro-sovereignty convictions (TPM, Drollet and harshly criticized the April 2012). politicians of all parties. While arguing In November 2011, two ceremo- that the pro-French territorial gov- nies marking important historical eras ernment under Gaston Flosse from took place. In Papara, a monument 1991 to 2004 “in complicity with the honoring Opuhara, the leader of the French State had created the largest traditionalist party slain in the deci- corruption machine ever existing in sive 1815 battle between Christians the territory of the French Republic,” 158 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) the succeeding governments led by arrested Teatuaura Temataru, the Temaru, Drollet, and other indepen- self-proclaimed “King of Tahiti,” as dence supporters, despite their slogan well as several supporters of his “gov- of “Taui Roa” (Great Change) had ernment.” Hailing from the island done nothing substantial to do away of Maupiti, Temataru had attracted with that corrupt system. On the attention when he first proclaimed contrary, during Temaru’s presidency, himself king of his home island and a single politician (Emile Vernaudon) then created a Pacific confederation had embezzled hitherto unparalleled with representatives of other self- amounts of public funds, and the proclaimed “kingdoms” on other political culture had fallen to such a Polynesian islands. Eventually, in late low level that some politicians were 2011 he opened his own tribunal in now changing their party affilia- Papeete and appeared with a guard tion every few months, just to be on of twenty uniformed bodyguards and the side of the government majority. a service vehicle inscribed “Police When Barral had recently suggested Royale.” The last two steps provoked to Speaker Drollet to work out a new police intervention because, accord- consensus-based project inclusive of ing to the 2004 organic law of French all political camps and wider ele- Polynesia, the judiciary and internal ments of society in order to enable the security are responsibilities of the credible and responsible conduct of French state, which does not tolerate government, Drollet and other upld messing with its prerogatives (TPM, Jan colleagues reportedly advised him to 2012). For similar reasons, in early postpone his suggestions until after July 2012, police cracked down on the next elections. Barral took this another self-proclaimed government, as another indicator of how politics “Hau Pakumotu,” and arrested its continue to operate on the short-term leaders (tntv news, 13 July 2012). logic of power strategies (TPM, Dec These and other, similarly bizarre- 2011). looking fantasy states founded recently Mostly concurring with Barral, in Tahiti might seem to be merely Tahiti-based political scientist Sémir comic operas, but there are deeper Al-Wardi and historian Jean-Marc reasons for the increasing popularity Regnault in late 2011 published a of these movements. Growing num- book with the appropriate title Tahiti bers especially among the poorer rural en crise durable (Tahiti in a sustain- Tahitian population have lost confi- able crisis), deploring the seemingly dence in the pro-independence politi- irresolvable political and economic cal parties they traditionally voted for, impasse in which the country has been because the latter have increasingly stuck for almost a decade (Al-Wardi become part of the political establish- and Regnault 2011). ment, while an improvement of social With no changes in sight within and economic conditions for the lower the formal political system, it should classes is nowhere in sight. not come as a surprise that alterna- The New Year started with the tive political projects are flourish- closure of Tahitipresse, the coun- ing. In mid-December, French police try’s official news agency, which, political reviews ‡ polynesia 159 being staffed with rather few people a price tag of 2.5 billion cfp francs in comparison to other government (us$25 million), very costly (TPM, agencies, fell victim to the hesitant, April 2012, May 2012). unsystematic, and rather symbolic While the government keeps cuts in government expenditure. wasting funds for ill-conceived pres- Tahitipresse had usually been a reli- tige projects such as this, the private able source of information for this sector continues to stagnate. Among review. Also during the review period, the few exceptions was the purchase the French Pacific territories lost an of the luxury hotel Le Méridien in important figure in the development of Punaauia by the Samoan Hotel com- print media when in September 2011, pany Aggie Grey’s in January, one of journalist and printer Daniel Tardieu the few recent instances of foreign passed away in Nouméa at age ninety. investment in the country’s tourism Tardieu cofounded the oldest currently industry and, interestingly enough, by existing newspaper of the country, a small company from a neighboring Les Nouvelles de Tahiti, in 1948, then Island nation (TPM, Feb 2012). moved to New Caledonia where he In late April, President Temaru created Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes, announced another giant economic which is still the major daily newspa- project, a large-scale tuna farm in Hao per there (TPM, Oct 2011). atoll, to be financed by Chinese inves- The first major political event in tors (TPM, May 2012, June–July 2012; the New Year was the visit by French ti, 2 June 2012). Similar projects Minister for Overseas Territories to take advantage of the infrastruc- Marie-Luce Penchard from 5 to 14 ture leftover from the former French February. During the visit, Vice Presi- military base on Hao and of the atoll’s dent Geros signed a contract with the huge lagoon had been announced by minister, pledging to sell the building several preceding governments, so it that houses the French Polynesia office remains to be seen whether the project in Paris in order to be eligible for an will indeed be implemented. advance in funds from the French trea- During the remaining period sury. On 19 February, however, Geros under review, the country was mainly announced that the country govern- preoccupied with the French national ment would not sell the building, since elections. During the presidential this would constitute a gesture of self- elections on 21 April and 5 May, humiliation by Tahiti vis-à-vis Paris. the majority of French Polynesia’s The French government subsequently voters, contrary to the metropolitan blocked release of the promised funds trend, voted for incumbent President (TPM, March 2012). Nicolas Sarkozy. During the first elec- In March, another infrastructural tion round, Sarkozy received 45.21 pet project was inaugurated: a new percent of the votes (27.18 percent harbor station intended to facilitate in France), against 32.43 percent for ferry traffic to Moorea. Typical for Socialist candidate François Hollande official buildings in Tahiti, the station (28.63 percent in France). Marine Le is an impressive display of architec- Pen of the extreme right-wing Front ture but not very practical and, with National, who polled third in France 160 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) with 17.90 percent, reached only 5.73 The specifics of the local results, percent in French Polynesia. Fourth and their divergence from French place was claimed by François Bayrou national trends, can be best explained of the liberal Mouvement Démocrate by looking back at the positioning party, with 5.72 percent locally (9.13 of the local political parties in the percent in France). All other can- preceding electoral campaign. A large didates received insignificant local front encompassing virtually all of the results, including Philippe Poutou of otherwise divided local pro-French the radical left Nouveau Parti Anti- parties, including Flosse’s Tahoeraa capitaliste; although he was the only and Tong Sang’s To Tatou Aia, had French presidential candidate to have declared themselves in favor of Sar- unambiguously declared himself in kozy, which explains the latter’s sur- favor of French Polynesia’s indepen- prisingly good score. Temaru’s formal dence, he gained only 0.59 percent of partnership with the French Socialist the local vote (1.15 percent in France). party explains why Hollande won in Local participation was a record low upld-ruled municipalities. Bayrou of 49.35 percent, as opposed to 79.48 scored third, since he had the local percent of the voters in France. support of Nicole Bouteau’s minor In the runoff, won nationally by centrist party No Oe E Te Nunaa. The Hollande with 51.64 percent, Sarkozy negligible scores of all other candi- still led the local vote with 53.26 dates, including the nationally strong percent (48.36 percent in France) Le Pen and even Poutou, the only can- against 48.11 percent for Hollande. didate specifically engaged for a local Compared to the last presidential elec- political topic, are the results of their tion, the local vote for Sarkozy even lack of a local political party support- increased, since in the 2007 runoff, ing their campaign. Sarkozy had received 51.90 percent. Especially interesting from a Hollande lead the vote only in the political point of view was the local , some of the Tua- campaign for Sarkozy, since in his motu and , the islands case, several competing parties had of Tahaa and Moorea, as well as in rallied behind one French candidate the municipalities of Faaa and West from the first round, a strategy that Taiarapu on Tahiti. At 58.94 percent, allowed them to conceal their indi- local participation in the runoff was vidual strength and make it possible still much lower than in France (80.35 for each of them to count Sarkozy’s percent) but relatively high for local votes as theirs. This strategy was standards. Irregularities in the count- most evidently used by Gaston Flosse, ing of votes compelled the French whose once all-powerful Tahoeraa Constitutional Council to declare the had suffered extreme losses during the election in the municipality of Papeete last territorial election in 2008 and to be void, but because of the overall had subsequently lost the endorse- insignificance of those votes, this had ment from Sarkozy’s Union pour un no effect on the results of the presiden- Mouvement Populaire (ump) party tial election as a whole (rnzi, 10 May as its local partner to Tong Sang’s To 2012). Tatou Aia. To rally behind Sarkozy political reviews ‡ polynesia 161 despite all of that was thus a brilliant atively asked question by a journalist move for Flosse to save face and at the that he was not for the independence same time outmaneuver Tong Sang of French Polynesia, he has also stated and other recently created pro-French that this is a personal disagreement splinter groups (NT, 22 Apr 2012). between him and his partner Oscar When on 12 April, Sarkozy’s Min- Temaru (TPM, March 2012), implying ister of Finance and Economic Affairs that he was not intending to limit the François Baroin visited Tahiti for a country’s right to self-determination as campaign speech, he was supposed Sarkozy had done. Since his election to be hosted by representatives of all as president, Hollande has thus far local parties that had declared support avoided making any further explicit for Sarkozy, but at first Flosse was statements on the issue. conspicuously absent. After Tong Sang With the change of power in Paris and other leaders of small pro-French thus raising significant hope for a new splinter parties had waited for a while, deal with Tahiti, the bid for reinscrip- Flosse suddenly showed up with 5,000 tion as a non-self-governing territory of his party members, all uniformed received a new boost at the Ministe- in orange, the Tahoeraa party color, rial Meeting of the Coordinating and crowded the hall where Baroin Bureau of the Non-Aligned Move- was to speak, making an overwhelm- ment in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. On ing impression on both the minister 9 May the representatives of Papua and the local party leaders (TPM, New Guinea and Fiji introduced a May 2012). resolution, which was approved and The election of Hollande might included in the meeting’s communi- mark the beginning of a new era. qué, stating that the organization, The five years of Sarkozy brought no consisting of 120 member states, visible change in the French attitude “affirmed the inalienable right of the toward Tahiti. Essentially, Sarkozy people of French Polynesia–Ma‘ohi had continued Chirac’s policy of cul- Nui to self-determination in accor- tivating special relations with a local dance with Chapter xi of the United pro-French client leader (Flosse for Nations and the UN General Assembly Chirac, Tong Sang for Sarkozy) and Resolution 1514(xv)” (Fiji Ministry of had manipulated the political process Information, 11 May 2012). Repre- in that client’s favor, while maintain- senting two-thirds of the UN member ing an overall arrogant and chauvin- states, in the words of a Fijian journal- istic attitude against independence in ist reporting on the issue, “the support general and Oscar Temaru’s party in by the 120 members of the movement particular. The active campaign of the will greatly assist the advancement Sarkozy government against reinscrip- of the issue in the United Nations,” tion once again was evidence for that referring to the next General Assembly continuing colonialist attitude. meeting in September 2012 (Fiji Sun, Hollande’s position on these ques- 13 May 2012). tions remains to be seen. Even though The news once more drew sharp on 25 February the Socialist presiden- criticism from the pro-French oppo- tial candidate had replied to a provoc- sition parties. In a press statement, 162 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

Tahoeraa called the resolution of the Arue on Tahiti as well as the island Non-Aligned Movement an “inac- of Moorea and the Tuamotu and ceptable interference in the internal Marquesas Islands) with 36.62 per- affairs of France,” while Tong Sang cent, a significant advance over upld denied the legitimacy of Fiji’s and candidate and Minister of Finance Papua New Guinea’s activism, based and Economic Affairs Pierre Frébault, on their governments’ poor demo- who gained only 18.30 percent. The cratic performance (ti, 15 May 2012). incumbent, Papeete Mayor Michel This reaction by Tahoeraa and its Buillard (To Tatou Aia), was not run- former member was rather hypocriti- ning again. The balance of the votes cal, since Flosse had been one of the went to several candidates of small chief outside supporters of the earlier splinter parties. Fijian military dictatorship of Colonel In the second constituency (rural Sitiveni Rabuka in the 1980s (Reg- municipalities on Tahiti as well as the nault 2011). What makes Tahoeraa’s Austral Islands), Tahoeraa candidate position even more ironic is the fact Jonas Tahuaitu (assistant mayor of that Rabuka’s regime was based on Papeari) scored highest with 29.18 indigenous ethno-nationalism and percent of the votes, but the upld Christian fundamentalism, the very candidate, attorney and political new- ideologies pro-French Tahitians have comer Philippe Neuffer, who obtained constantly accused Temaru of harbor- 24.34 percent, scored significantly ing, while the current Fijian military higher than Frébault did in his race. government under Bainimarama Incumbent Bruno Sandras, the mayor advocates a secular and multiethnic of Papara who had recently left Fijian state. Tahoeraa to found his own party and If the campaign for the French who received official support from the presidential election gave some French ump, came in fourth with 9.44 indications of Tahoeraa’s comeback, percent, overtaken by Teiva Manutahi the subsequent French legislative (of the small independent party Pori- elections, held in French Polynesia netia Ora), who received a surprising on 2 and 16 June, restored Flosse’s 10.28 percent. party to a position of strength not Only in the third constituency was seen since 2004. Due to the increase upld leading the vote in the first in population, the number of deputies round, where its candidate, Minis- to represent the country in the French ter of Education, Youth, and Sports National Assembly, each to be elected Tauhiti Nena, received 30.52 percent in a single-member constituency in against Tahoeraa candidate Jean two rounds, was increased from two Paul Tuaiva (a young businessman to three. and political newcomer) with 23.90 Already in the first round of voting, percent. Former President and Bora- Tahoeraa candidate Edouard Fritch Bora Mayor Gaston Tong Sang, whose (Flosse’s son-in-law and leader of the party To Tatou Aia had won the last Tahoeraa caucus in the assembly) territorial elections in 2008, scored led the vote in the first constituency third with only 16.45 percent. At (municipalities of Papeete, Pirae, and 45.79 percent, local participation was political reviews ‡ polynesia 163 significantly lower than the French shows that the majority of local national turnout of 57.23 percent. voters, similar to the presidential In the runoff election, Fritch virtu- elections, did not follow the French ally doubled his votes and won the trend—the Socialist Party and its first constituency with a solid majority center-left allies won an overall major- of 63.36 percent. In the second con- ity of 331 of 577 seats in the National stituency, the trend of the first round Assembly—but continued to vote for was also reinforced, with Tahuaitu the local pro-French parties affiliated scoring 53.42 percent in a clear with the center-right French opposi- victory over Neuffer, even though the tion. Temaru’s Socialist-allied upld latter had the support of Sandras as was not able to capitalize on the well as several small splinter candi- political change in France and reach dates from the first round (ti, 13 June, out to voters outside of its traditional 16 June 2012). In the third constitu- support base. At the same time, within ency, however, the runoff went against the pro-French camp, voters’ support the trend of the first round, and is shifting from To Tatou Aia and Tuaiva won a bare majority of 50.24 other Tahoeraa breakaway groups percent against Nena (ti, 16 June back to Tahoeraa. 2012). Since the difference between However, as is usual in French the two was only 152 votes and there Polynesian elections, gerrymander- were rumors about irregularities in ing had a part in the election results Tahoeraa-controlled municipalities, as well. Previously, the first of the Nena challenged the results in the two constituencies had included the third constituency (DT, 4 July 2012). western half of Tahiti plus the west- The complaint, however, had no ern outer islands, while the second injunctive consequences, and Tuaiva constituency covered the eastern half has been declared winner until proven of the main island and the archipela- otherwise. At 53.99 percent, local gos to the east. Since roughly two- turnout for the runoff drew closer to thirds of the population live on Tahiti the French national figure of 55.41 and one-third on the outer islands, a percent. logical redistricting would have split Tahoeraa is not officially supported Tahiti into two and made the outer by any French party after having been islands one constituency, thus giving dumped by the ump in 2008, so it was the outer archipelagos their own voice at first unclear in which parliamentary in Paris. Instead, the French govern- caucus the three Tahoeraa deputies ment decided to make each constitu- would sit. Eventually, they decided ency once more consist of a slice of to become members of the Union des Tahiti and lump each of them together Démocrates et Indépendants Caucus, with a few outer islands, a system that which groups the deputies of various could hardly be more absurd. Besides, small center-right parties in opposition the gerrymandering was also clearly to Hollande, under the leadership of designed to minimize the chances of Jean-Louis Borloo of the Parti Radical Temaru’s party gaining a seat, since (ti, 20 June 2012) the third constituency lumped together An analysis of the election results Temaru’s main stronghold of Faaa 164 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) with the neighboring, largely pro- radiation-induced disease had been French district of Punaauia, home to rejected by the French Ministry of many French settlers, while excluding Defense. Nuclear test victims’ associa- the nearby island of Moorea, another tion Moruroa e Tatou considered the upld stronghold. Moorea is located verdict an important breakthrough nearest to Faaa and Punaauia but (ti, 25 June 2012). On the nega- against all logic was included in the tive side, the end of the period under first constituency. review was again marked by a strike Undeniable, however, is the fact at the airport at the beginning of that Tong Sang and his party have the school holiday season, an initia- fallen back among the ranks of minor tive by trade union leaders to defend splinter groups, as if their 2008 elec- their members’ privileges without tion victory had never happened. consideration of the overall impact of Their comet-like rise and fall may such actions on the country’s already be explained through the obvious severely affected economy (TPM, June– manipulations by the then French gov- July 2012). ernment under Sarkozy, who wanted While all these troubles continued to build up Tong Sang as a loyal and at home, at least one small group of complacent client leader, while the Tahitians were able to fulfill a lifetime latter apparently lacks both the cha- dream when the voyaging canoe Faa- risma and the organizational talent of faite, having made previous voyages to Temaru and Flosse. The local political Hawai‘i and other Polynesian islands, scene has thus largely reverted from WUDYHOHGYLD6ëPRD)LMLDQG9DQXDWX a triangular configuration of Temaru to Solomon Islands to attend the 11th versus Flosse versus Tong Sang (with Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara, permanently shifting alliances between the first modern voyage of a Tahi- two of the three) back to a bipolariza- tian canoe to Western Polynesia and tion between Temaru (pro-indepen- Melanesia (ti, 30 June 2012). dence) and Flosse (anti-independence). lorenz gonschor In view of the 2013 territorial elec- tions, however, a new third force is currently in formation by politicians References hitherto in the background, led by Teiva Manutahi, Nicole Bouteau, and abc Radio Australia. Daily radio and Philip Schyle (ti, 2 July 2012). The Internet news. http://www.radioaustralia .net.au/international/ latter two scored between 8 and 9 percent each in the first constituency Al-Wardi, Sémir, and Jean-Marc Regnault. and have been known for a long time 2011. Tahiti en crise durable: Un lourd as proponents of a moderate “middle héritage. Moorea: Les Editions de Tahiti. path.” DT, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. The review period ended on a http://www.ladepeche.pf positive note when the Administra- Fiji Ministry of Information. 2012. tive Court in Papeete decided in Non-Aligned Movement (nam) favor of six nuclear-test veterans Members Agree to Fiji and PNG whose request for compensation for Proposal, 11 May. Posted on Fiji Ministry political reviews ‡ polynesia 165 of Information Facebook page http://www Philip, Danny. 2011. Statement by .facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid Honourable Danny Philip, Prime Minister =409078999125041&id [Solomon Islands], Before the General =207532522613024 [accessed Debate of the 66th Session of the United 16 May 2012] Nations General Assembly, 24th Septem- ber, New York. http://gadebate.un.org/ Fiji Sun. Daily. Suva. sites/default/files/gastatements/66/SB http://www.fijisun.com.fj _en.pdf [accessed 25 Sept 2011] Government of Fiji. 2011. Engaging pir, Pacific Islands Report. Daily Internet with the Pacific Leaders Meeting. Nadi news. Honolulu. http://pidp.eastwestcenter Communiqué, 1–2 September. Posted on .org/pireport Fiji Government website. http://www.fiji .gov.fj/ [accessed 6 Sept 2011] Regnault, Jean-Marc. 2006. La France à l’opposé d’elle-même: Essais d’Histoire Government of France. Validité du traité politique de l’Océanie. Volume 1: “Il y a d’amitié, de commerce et de navigation, un monde du Pacifique” disait de Gaulle. entre la France et le roi des Îles Hawaii Moorea: Les Editions de Tahiti. signé le 29 octobre 1857. 13ème législa- ture. Question écrite n° 20195 de M. Rich- ———. 2011. L’anosognosie, maladie ard Tuheiava (Polynésie française–soc) universellement répandue chez les poli- tiques. Tahiti Pacifique Magazine 245 publiée dans le JO Sénat du 29/09/2011, (October): 28–29. page 2474. Posted on French Senate website http://www.senat.fr/basile/visio rnzi, Radio New Zealand International. .do?id=qSEQ110920195 [accessed Daily radio and Internet news. 25 Sept 2011] http://www.rnzi.com Kilman Lituvanu, Meltek Sato. 2011. ti, Tahiti Infos. Daily Internet news. Statement by The Right Honourable Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-infos.com Meltek Sato Kilman Lituvanu, Prime tntv, Tahiti Nui Télévison. Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, http://www.tntv.pf Before the Sixty-sixth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations tp, Tahitipresse. Daily Internet news. Headquarters, New York, Saturday, Tahiti. http://www.tahitipresse.pf

24 September. http://gadebate.un.org/sites/ TPM, Tahiti Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. default/files/gastatements/66/VU_en.pdf Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-pacifique.com [accessed 25 Aug 2012] Massau, Serge. 2011. Paroles d’un autoch- tone: Entretiens avec le sénateur Richard Tuheiava. Papeete: Éditions Haere Po No 0ëRUL,VVXHV Tahiti. In a year when tensions between NT, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. 0ëRULDQGWKHJRYHUQPHQWZHUH http://lesnouvelles.pf increasing, hosting the Rugby World Cup was a welcome albeit temporary Pacific Islands Forum. 2011. Forty-second Pacific Islands Forum, Auckland, New GLVWUDFWLRQ'HVSLWHDVWURQJ0ëRUL Zealand, 7–8 September, Forum Com- presence at the opening and on the muniqué. http://www.forumsec.org/pages New Zealand All Blacks team, dis- .cfm/documents/forum-communiques/ plays of racism marred the event on [accessed 27 Nov 2011] more than one occasion. This very