pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 151 sure, the government scrapped the Hawai‘i was no longer justifi ed, it was compulsory helmet law, inadvertently closed (CIN, 1 March 2008, 1). leaving some retail shops stuck with jon tikivanotau m jonassen pre ordered supplies of helmets (CIN, 4 April 2008, 1). Police also began using laser guns to catch speeding drivers References (CIN, 16 April 2008, 1). CIH, Cook Islands Herald. Rarotonga. In the 2007–2008 period, the Cook Weekly Islands Parliament passed an electoral amendment act that clearly defi nes CIN, Cook Islands News. Rarotonga. Daily. the process by which a prime minister may be removed from offi ce, either by the defeat of an annual appropriations French Polynesia budget, or a vote of no confi dence. The act also forces members to vote With three changes of governments, according to party lines or automati- political instability in French Poly- cally lose their seats. This part of the nesia increased further during the act attempts to prevent the party period under review. Reform of the hopping that has led to the formation country’s political system and fresh of new governments outside of Parlia- elections, both unilaterally imposed ment (CIN, 11 Aug 2007, 1). by Paris, served to further aggravate Secretary of Foreign Affairs Edwin the situation. Meanwhile, the local Pitman resigned from his post after political scene was being reconfi gured, fi fteen years of service (CIN, 14 Nov with once staunchly pro-French leader 2007, 1). To the surprise of many, Gaston Flosse allying himself with Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilkie his pro-independence archrival Oscar Rasmussen selected fellow lawyer and Temaru, while many of Flosse’s former former British honorary representa- allies formed a heterogeneous pro- tive Mike Mitchell to succeed Pitman French coalition under Gaston Tong (CIN, 16 Jan 2008, 1). Public criticism Sang. emerged over the appointment because In mid-July, the governing pro- Mitchell is only a permanent resident, French coalition under President Tong not a Cook Islander (CIN, 17 Jan Sang, formed in late December 2006 2008, 4). This was especially troubling out of Flosse’s Tahoeraa Huiraatira as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (People’s Rally) party and several is responsible for immigration, and splinter groups opposed to the previ- controls the process for issuing perma- ous pro-independence president, Oscar nent-resident status. It was noted that Temaru, broke apart after barely Mitchell’s expertise lay in areas other six months in existence. An internal than foreign affairs, and Cook Island- power struggle between Flosse and ers were insulted that qualifi ed local Tong Sang had been going on for candidates were not considered (CIN, several months, but it escalated dur- 19 Jan 2008, 1, 4). Mitchell reviewed ing Tong Sang’s visit to Paris in early the Cook Islands’ overseas offi ces, and July. Tong Sang and his delegation after determining that the consulate in met French President Nicolas Sarkozy 152 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) and negotiated contracts with several scape in Paris. Since Sarkozy took over French ministries (NT, 10 July 2008). the presidency from Jacques Chirac However, assembly Speaker Edouard in May, the latter’s close friend Flosse Fritch, Flosse’s son-in-law, and other no longer receives special support leading Tahoeraa members were not from Paris. Instead, Sarkozy has made part of the delegation and complained his preference for Tong Sang quite about the lack of discussion about the obvious. As he demonstrated earlier contracts in the assembly before the in his career, Flosse is much more a trip (NT, 7 July 2007; TPM, Aug 2007). power politician than an ideologue (he As a result, shortly after Tong changed from an apologist of authori- Sang’s return from Paris, the fi ve tarian colonial rule to an ardent sup- Tahoeraa ministers in Tong Sang’s porter of local autonomy in the early cabinet resigned, and the party 1980s). He was ready to ally with decided to withdraw from the coali- the pro-independence camp in order tion, leaving Tong Sang and his to undermine the new Sarkozy–Tong remaining coalition partners in a Sang axis and keep himself in a posi- minority position (DT, 19 July 2007). tion of power. One day later, Flosse announced After Tong Sang’s attempts in that he had had talks with opposition consultations with Tahoeraa lead- leader Temaru and was ready to form ers to save his minority government a new governing coalition (DT, 20 failed, Temaru’s upld (Union for July 2007). He advocated a reconcili- Democracy) coalition fi led a motion of ation of the two historically opposed censure against the government. This political blocks, and an agreement to was adopted by the assembly on 31 respect each other’s political convic- August with an ample majority of 35 tions and work for the common good votes, combining those of upld with (NT, 21 July 2007). When French those of Tahoeraa (TPM, Sept 2007). Secretary of State for Overseas Ter- Tong Sang had attempted to delay ritories Christian Estrosi criticized his overthrow by fi ling a procedural the proposal, Flosse accused him of complaint, and on 8 September about having a colonialist attitude (NT, 23 2,500 people marched through the July 2007). In an extraordinary party streets of Papeete in support of the convention on 25 July, Tahoeraa ousted president (DT, 9 Sept 2007). approved the withdrawal from Tong However, the show of force was to no Sang’s government and the negotia- avail (TPM, Sept 2007). tions with Temaru. However, Flosse For the election of a new president had insisted on an open vote instead on 13 September, Tahoeraa came up of a secret ballot (DT, 26 July 2007). with a new twist. It denied any alli- Subsequently, the party encountered ance with the upld and presented many problems with dissidents who Edouard Fritch as its own candidate deserted to Tong Sang, thus weakening to run against Temaru and Tong Sang. Flosse’s position (TPM, Oct 2007). As none of them could receive the Flosse’s maneuver surprised many overall majority required to be elected, observers, but it can be explained in Flosse’s strategy was apparently to terms of the changing political land- force a second round of voting, in pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 153 which he hoped Tong Sang’s support- years ago, and from which ancient ers would vote for Fritch because voyages of exploration departed for of their ideological opposition to destinations as distant as New Zea- Temaru. However, two days before land and Hawai‘i. The guests included the election, the French Council of Mäori King Tuheitia, Paramount Chief State (the highest administrative court) Tumu Te Heuheu of Ngäti Tüwhare- decided that a relative majority would toa (who was also Chairperson of the be suffi cient in the second round of unesco world heritage committee); voting. Temaru was elected president the president of the Cook Islands’ once more with a relative majority of House of Ariki, Ada Rongomatane 26 votes, and in his inaugural speech Ariki; several other Cook Islands he thanked Flosse for his indirect sup- high chiefs and the country’s prime port (DT, 12 Sept 2007; NT, 12 Sept minister, Jim Marurai; Princess Malia 2007; DT, 14 Sept 2007; TPM, Oct Kulimoetoke of Uvea (Wallis); a chief 2007). from Futuna; a delegation of chiefl y On 18 September, Temaru pre- descendants from Rapa Nui; and a sented his new cabinet of sixteen min- chiefl y descendant from Hawai‘i. Also isters, almost identical to that during present were two Kanak chiefs from his previous term. The only new faces the Customary Senate of New Caledo- were former assembly Speaker Antony nia. During the three-day meeting, the Geros as vice president instead of delegates discussed the role of tradi- Jacqui Drollet, and pearl dealer Marc tional leaders in the contemporary Collins as minister of tourism (DT, 19 Pacifi c, and signed a declaration to Sept 2007; NT, 19 Sept 2007; TPM, Oct commit themselves to the preservation 2007). Tahoeraa refused to participate of the cultural heritage of Polynesia. in the government, but agreed not to In the presence of unesco offi cial Te fi le a motion of censure against Tema- Heuheu, the participants also sup- ru’s minority government and cooper- ported listing Marae Taputapuatea as ate with the upld in the assembly. a world heritage site (DT, 11, 13, 15 The change of government cast Sept 2007; TPM, Oct 2007). a cloud over the meeting of Pacifi c Invitees from Sämoa and Tonga, Islands royal families on Marae on the other hand, cancelled their Taputapuatea on the island of Raiatea already confi rmed participation at the from 12 to 14 September. The meeting last minute after receiving a diplo- was organized by the royal custom- matic note cosigned by Gaston Flosse ary council association Na Huiarii and Oscar Temaru urging them not Mata Ara e Pae under the leadership to attend the meeting because of the of Tahitian royal family descendant ongoing change of government (TP, Joinville Pomare and with the sup- 6 Sept 2007). The two leaders appar- port of the Tong Sang government. ently feared that the meeting, spon- The organizers hoped to reunite all sored by Tong Sang, could give the the chiefl y families of Polynesia on the latter an unintended boost by raising famed marae (ancient temple), which his profi le among Pacifi c Islands lead- was the spiritual and political center ers. Temaru initially refused to hold of Eastern Polynesia until about 600 the reception for the chiefl y guests 154 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) scheduled by Tong Sang in the Papeete constant political instability, the presidential palace. After some nego- French government revised the politi- tiations, the reception did fi nally take cal statute governing the territory. On place in a lukewarm atmosphere. 1 August, Secretary of State Estrosi Temaru and Pomare, both long announced that his offi ce was prepar- time pro-independence leaders, have ing this, and anticipated elections strong disagreements on the political in early 2008 (TPM, Sept 2007). He shape the future independent country consulted various local political lead- might take. While Temaru favors a ers during the two following months, system of Western-style democracy, receiving mixed reactions. Tong Sang Pomare advocates the restoration of and his allied splinter parties sup- a political role for traditional leaders, ported Estrosi’s proposal, while the as well as the re-creation of customary two large parties, Tahoeraa and upld, land tribunals. Because of these and declined. In order to create more other disagreements, Pomare has allied stable majorities, the revision included himself with Tong Sang and other pro- a new voting system for the assem- French politicians. bly of French Polynesia, which in the Since Tong Sang was ousted by future will be elected through a pro- his own party, it was not surprising portional system in two rounds of vot- that soon after the consolidation of ing. Only lists that receive more than the new Tahoeraa-tolerated Temaru 12.5 percent in the fi rst round can minority government, he formally participate in the runoff ballot, and resigned his Tahoeraa membership and lists that receive more than 5 percent founded his own party on 28 Sep- are allowed to merge with one of the tember. It was named O Porinetia To larger lists. In addition, the president Tatou Ai‘a (Polynesia Is Our Country), of French Polynesia can no longer be and consisted of Tahoeraa dissidents overthrown in a motion of censure, mainly from the Leeward Islands, as but only in a “motion of defi ance,” well as a few veteran politicians with which means the simultaneous elec- other affi liations (TP, 28 Sept 2007). tion of a successor. The Speaker of the On 11 October, Tong Sang signed a assembly, whose yearly reelection had partnership agreement with former caused political turmoil in the past, Temaru ally Emile Vernaudon’s Ai‘a will in the future be elected only once Api (New Homeland) party, Philip for the full fi ve-year legislative term. Schyle’s formerly centrist Fetia Api Furthermore, the new statute includes (New Star), and several small pro- more stringent control mechanisms French splinter parties under the on the use of French subsidies by the umbrella name of To Tatou Ai‘a (Our local government in order to prevent Land) (TPM, Nov 2007). After some embezzlement, corruption, and bad hesitation, the alliance was also joined governance (NT, 20 Sept 2007; TPM, on 27 November by Jean-Christophe Oct and Dec 2008). Bouissou’s Rautahi (Unity) party, On 4 October, the assembly held another, earlier Tahoeraa dissident a nonbinding vote on the proposal, group. and rejected it with an overwhelm- Meanwhile, in reaction to the ing majority; upld and Tahoeraa pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 155 denounced it as interference in the of Emile Vernaudon in the fi rst two country’s autonomy, and as remi- Temaru governments, had grossly niscent of colonialism. However, abused these privileges and embezzled when Temaru met Sarkozy in Paris large amounts of funds, a scandal that a few days later, on 9 October, he provoked massive public criticism was informed that early elections in (TPM, Nov 2007). January under the new system were On 29 November, a Papeete court a done deal (TPM, Nov 2007). In confi rmed the sentences of 23 individ- spite of overwhelming local opposi- uals including former President Flosse tion, the reform was rushed through for embezzlement of public funds the French parliament. It passed the through the creation of so-called “fi c- National Assembly on 22 November tional employments,” ruling that they and the Senate on 30 November, with needed to reimburse a total of 308 votes from Sarkozy’s ump (Union million cfp francs (us$3.5 million) of for a Popular Movement) and allied fraudulently received salaries, in addi- right-wing parties prevailing over the tion to fi nes (TPM, Dec 2007). opposition French Socialist party (TPM, The most spectacular effort by the Dec 2008). This episode proved once local judiciary in the prosecution of more that the statute of autonomy corruption was the arrest of Emile does not guarantee real local self- Vernaudon on 4 December for his role government, as France remains able in the post offi ce embezzlement scan- to make arbitrary modifi cations to its dal. In sharp contrast to the previous political system against the explicit lenient treatment of corrupt politi- will of the local assembly. cians, Vernaudon was placed in deten- It was only logical, therefore, that tion for the following four months at the Pacifi c Islands Forum meeting until completion of the judicial inquiry in Nuku‘alofa, Tonga, on 15 Octo- (TPM, Jan 2007). ber, President Temaru reiterated the The specter of outer-island seces- demand to reinscribe French Polynesia sion also reemerged. On 31 October, on the UN list of non-self-governing the mayor of Hiva Oa in the Mar- territories, from which France had quesas, Guy Rauzy, and his colleague removed the territory unilaterally in Teina Maraeura of Rangiroa in the 1947 (TPM, Nov 2007; July 2008). Tuamotus suggested to Secretary of Political corruption is a pressing State Estrosi that their respective issue, now affecting every politi- archipelagos should remain French cal camp. Efforts to fi ght it through territories in the event of Tahiti’s political and judicial means have been independence (TPM, Dec 2007). largely ineffective. On 12 October, During the Marquesas Islands festi- Jean-Paul Barral, the new Temaru val on 17 December, which Estrosi appointee at the head of the Post and attended, Mayor Joseph Kaiha of the Telecommunications Offi ce, drasti- Marquesas island of Ua Pou publicly cally cut his own salary and removed demanded the creation of a separate all additional benefi ts associated with French overseas entity for the Mar- the position. Previous offi ceholders, quesas. This led to strong and polemic especially those under the ministry reactions from Temaru and Flosse, 156 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) who accused Kaiha and Estrosi of high moral standards and that did not attempting to dismantle the territo- participate in power plays—reached rial integrity of the country. A protest the fourth position with 5.40 percent, march called by Temaru’s party on 22 and was thus the only minor party December attracted 1,200 participants qualifi ed for an eventual merger with in downtown Papeete (TPM, Jan 2008). one of the three leading lists. Ten other The idea of Marquesan secession has lists received less than 1 percent each existed in local political debates for (TP, 28 Jan 2008). decades, but it had never sparked such During the campaign, and even passionate reactions. more so between the two election The focus on the country’s unity rounds, the actions and attitude was probably a result of the electoral of Secretary of State Estrosi were campaign of December and January. strongly criticized. Over a period of While President Temaru attempted several months preceding the election, to revive the popular support for Estrosi visited Tahiti unusually often, change that had brought him to power each time demonstrating a conspicu- in 2004 and 2005, and focused on ously positive attitude toward Tong denouncing ongoing French colonial- Sang. Immediately after the fi rst ism, Tong Sang claimed to be the only election round, Estrosi telephoned competent and reasonable politician Nicole Bouteau and Gaston Flosse, capable of reunifying the population and advised them to merge with Tong and working constructively with Paris. Sang’s list for the second ballot. Bou- Flosse, on the other hand, distanced teau refused and expressed her indig- himself from Temaru and stressed his nation at the secretary’s interference pro-French ideology, while denounc- in the electoral process, preferring to ing Tong Sang as an imposter and uphold her dignity and leave active emphasizing the long period of politi- politics for the time being (TPM, Feb cal stability under his previous term 2008). Flosse also refused, so the three in offi ce from 1991 to 2004 (TPM, Jan leading lists went unchanged into the and Feb 2008). runoff. At the same time, the leader- The two election rounds, on 27 ship of the ruling French ump party January and 10 February, brought a congratulated Estrosi for the “suc- surprising development as Tong Sang’s cessful carrying out of the election,” recently formed alliance of splinter reinforcing the impression that he parties won a relative majority in both had interfered in the election process of them. In the fi rst ballot, To Tatou in Tong Sang’s favor. Both Flosse and Ai‘a, including allied party lists on Temaru expressed their indignation, the Tuamotu and Marquesas islands, and Temaru subsequently fi led a legal achieved 36.52 percent of the vote, complaint against Estrosi (TPM, Feb considerably more than the upld with 2008). 32.83 percent, while Tahoeraa with The results of the runoff ballot 21.82 percent came far behind. Nicole reinforced the tendencies apparent in Bouteau’s small No Oe E Te Nunaa the fi rst round. To Tatou Ai‘a received (For You, People) party—the only 45.12 percent and gained 27 of the 57 one that had constantly upheld its seats in the assembly, two short of the pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 157 overall majority. upld received 37.18 second session on 23 February, how- percent of the votes and 20 seats, ever, during which Tong Sang was sup- whereas Tahoeraa fell further behind, posed to be elected president, Flosse gaining only 17.16 percent and 10 made yet another unexpected move. seats. The night before he had suspended To Tatou Ai‘a’s lists led the ballot in the ongoing talks with Tong Sang, and four of the six electoral constituencies. instead made an agreement to form In the traditional Tahoeraa strong- a governing coalition with upld. At hold of Pirae, To Tatou Ai‘a gained the last minute, Temaru withdrew an absolute majority of votes. upld his candidacy, and Flosse was elected was the leading party in Temaru’s president with a bare majority of the stronghold of Faa‘a, as well as in the combined 29 votes of Tahoeraa and Tahoeraa-ruled municipalities of Paea, upld against the 27 votes for Tong Papara, Moorea, and Taputapuatea, Sang. One unknown representative and in the constituency of the Eastern had abstained. Assembly Speaker Tuamotu islands. Tahoeraa, on the Fritch subsequently resigned, and other hand, which had lead the vote Temaru was elected on 29 February in most of the outer islands in the last to replace him. As another part of the elections in 2004, achieved a majority deal, upld and Tahoeraa formed a only in the Austral Islands constitu- common parliamentary caucus called ency (NT, 11 Feb 2008; DT, 11 Feb udsp (Union for Development, Stabil- 2008). ity and Peace), which enabled them In spite of Tong Sang’s surpris- to obtain the leading positions in the ing success, no party held an overall assembly’s administration and on majority in the assembly, necessitating the various committees (TPM, March the formation of a governing coali- 2008). tion. Estrosi once more attempted to In his inaugural speech, Flosse said interfere in the election process by it was time to stop the ideological calling on Flosse to ally with Tong debate between independence sup- Sang, an action which suggested that porters and autonomists (in local Paris wanted to remove Temaru from politics, the autonomists are consid- the presidency at all cost (DT, 11 Feb ered pro-French), and form instead a 2008). government of unity in order to work Tong Sang and Fritch subsequently for the future of the country. As the began negotiations to form a coalition, most experienced of the three leaders, but these failed because of Tahoeraa’s he claimed to be the most suitable to excessive demands. Flosse then negoti- lead the coalition and act as arbiter ated with Temaru, but the talks were between the two opposing factions of suspended when Tong Sang declared To Tatou Ai‘a and upld (TP, 23 Feb he would fulfi ll all of Flosse’s requests. 2008). According to their coalition agree- Temaru argued that Flosse was ment, Fritch was reelected Speaker the lesser of two evils, considering it of the assembly with the votes of To more important to prevent the elec- Tatou Ai‘a and Tahoeraa in the consti- tion of Tong Sang, who he regards as a tuting session on 22 February. In the French puppet. The latter, on the other 158 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) hand, vehemently refused Flosse’s siderable amount of support, as many offer to participate in the government, voters became disappointed with the and many To Tatou Ai‘a members and performance of Temaru’s governments, supporters were outraged at what they which failed to suffi ciently implement perceived as a distortion of the elec- their electoral platform of good gov- tion results and thus a defrauding of ernance and social justice. A decisive the voters. On 1 March, a large pro- element for the upld’s loss of a major- test march was organized by To Tatou ity was also the defection of Emile Ai‘a in downtown Papeete, rallying Vernaudon’s Ai‘a Api party, originally about 9,000 people (TPM, March and the second-largest component of the April 2008). However, the protestors upld, to Tong Sang’s party. The core seemed to forget that French Polyne- element of upld, Temaru’s pro-inde- sia has a parliamentary, rather than pendence Tavini Huiraatira (People’s a presidential system, and a relative Servant) party, on the other hand, majority of seats does not guarantee a remains comparatively strong. party the right to hold the presidency. Most remarkable was Tong Sang’s Secretary of State Estrosi refused performance and his ability to gain to congratulate Flosse and merely a relative majority when his party “took notice” of his presidency. A had been in existence for only a few spokesperson of the ump party, of months. He successfully presented which Flosse has been a member for himself as the embodiment of renewal decades, announced it would break and good governance, despite the fact off all offi cial contacts with Tahoeraa, that he had been a cabinet minister which used to be the ump’s local affi li- under Flosse for many years and was ate. He accused Flosse of betraying the under judicial inquiry because of his ideals of ump by forming an alliance involvement in a corruption affair in “against nature” (TP, 24 Feb 2008). the early 2000s. In addition, many of On 28 February, President Flosse his allies are suspected of corruption, presented his cabinet, consisting of 15 or regarded as notorious opportun- ministers—5 from Tahoeraa, includ- ists. One explanation for his electoral ing Edouard Fritch as vice president, success was that many voters felt and 10 from upld, primarily those insecure because of France’s uncoop- who served in Flosse’s and Temaru’s erative attitude toward the Temaru previous cabinets. An exception was governments, and longed for political Temaru’s daughter Teua Temaru, a stability and a secure fl ow of fi nancial young marine biologist with no previ- subsidies from Paris. This made them ous political experience, who became feel compelled to vote for the candi- minister of environment (TP, 28 Feb date favored by Paris. Also important 2008). were the massive number of votes cast Analyzing the election results and for Tong Sang by the steadily growing their aftermath and comparing them number of French settlers, as well as with those of 2004 (outer islands) those of the economically infl uential and 2005 (by-election on Tahiti and Chinese community, of which Tong Moorea), one can make the following Sang is a part. observations. The upld lost a con- The demise of the once all-powerful pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 159

Tahoeraa can be explained through Buillard was reelected, but only after the party’s split following the quarrel having switched his allegiance from between Flosse and Tong Sang. An Tahoeraa to To Tatou Ai‘a. In the important section of the former Taho- township of Mahina, the long-serving, eraa electorate, including the French now Tong Sang–allied Mayor Emile settlers, the Chinese community, and Vernaudon, was reelected in absentia, the Polynesian upper class, almost since he was detained on embezzle- completely defected to Tong Sang, ment charges throughout the electoral an observation clearly confi rmed by campaign (TP, 10, 17 March). Tong Sang’s absolute majorities in all On the outer islands, the picture upper-class suburban neighborhoods. was less clear, with many lists refl ect- Apart from a few individuals from ing local issues more than Papeete pol- these social classes who are personally itics. Two of Tong Sang’s allies most tied to Flosse, Tahoeraa only retains notorious for their frequent change of hold on its core electorate among the allegiance, Marcellin Lisan of Huahine rural and working-class Polynesian and Temauri Foster of Hao in the Tua- population, which tends to be critical motus, lost their mayoralties to local of France. Since Temaru’s core elector- alliances between Tahoeraa and upld ate comes from the same social class, (TP, 17, 22 March 2008). the political alliance of the two leaders After the municipal elections, politi- is not as illogical as it might seem at cal agitation calmed down a little, fi rst glance. and the new government was able to Electoral campaigning was far from deliver its fi rst major achievement. On over, however. On 9 and 16 March, 19 March, the udsp majority in the municipal elections took place, which assembly adopted the 2008 budget of largely confi rmed the tendencies of the 161.29 billion cfp francs (us$2.03 preceding territorial elections. Unsur- billion), which had been originally prisingly, Oscar Temaru was reelected introduced by Temaru’s government in with an overall majority in the fi rst December 2007 but was then vetoed round as mayor of Faa‘a, the country’s by Tahoeraa. largest municipality, a position he has Another example of the construc- held since 1983. In a similar land- tive policy of the udsp alliance was slide, Gaston Tong Sang was reelected the nuclear issue. The government- mayor of the island of Bora Bora. affi liated Orientation Council on President Flosse’s Tahoeraa, on the the Follow-up on Nuclear Testing other hand, suffered further defeats. (coscen) was maintained by the In the party’s former stronghold of Flosse government. In early March Pirae, Edouard Fritch lost the mayor- it met with the French government’s alty to Beatrice Vernaudon (To Tatou delegate on nuclear safety, Jurien de Ai‘a), and in the third largest township la Gravière, to coordinate the cleanup of Punaauia, long-serving Tahoeraa of military sites on the islands and mayor Jacques Vii was defeated by atolls surrounding the former testing another Tong Sang supporter, Rony ground. While visiting Mangareva, Tumahai. In Papeete, the capital and one of the islands targeted for cleanup, second largest city, Mayor Michel de la Gravière, along with a coscen 160 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) delegation, supervised the deconstruc- following session of the assembly on tion of a 1960s antinuclear shelter, 15 April, however, the motion of defi - the material of which will be used to ance was passed with a bare majority seal parts of the island’s road (TP, 2, 3 of 29 votes against 27 and 1 absten- April 2008). He promised also to help tion. After less than two months in in the restoration and maintenance of offi ce, the Flosse government had been Mangareva’s St Michael’s Cathedral, overthrown and Tong Sang was once the oldest and largest nineteenth-cen- again president (TP, 15 April 2008). tury Catholic church building in the In his inaugural speech, the new Pacifi c. The cathedral is a historic president emphasized that his elec- monument that has fallen into disre- tion fi nally took into account the pair and is threatened with collapse popular election results of February, (TP, 5 April 2008). A few weeks after and promised to pursue an impartial de la Gravière’s visit, the territorial and citizen-oriented form of gover- health offi ce announced a series of nance. Flosse and Temaru, on the missions to examine and supervise other hand, questioned the legitimacy the health of former test workers and of the change of government because inhabitants exposed to radiation (21 it was the result of representatives’ March 2008). fl oor-crossing. Even though electoral campaign- The French government demon- ing was defi nitely over, a new twist in strated once more its partisan support the political drama began to unfold for Tong Sang, as President Sarkozy in early April. Michel Yip and Justine and other French government offi cials Teura, two upld assembly representa- congratulated the new Polynesian tives from the outer islands, resigned president immediately after his elec- from the udsp caucus and allied them- tion. Two months before, Flosse had selves with a group of outer-island not received any such congratulations representatives of To Tatou Ai‘a, who from Paris (TPM, May 2008). had previously formed a third parlia- On 19 April, Tong Sang announced mentary caucus named Te Mana o te his cabinet, composed of 14 ministers, Motu (The Power of the Islands). This most of them unchanged from those was apparently a tactical maneuver in in his cabinet in 2007. Jules Ienfa order to make Yip’s and Teura’s fl oor became the new vice president (TP, 19 crossing appear less extreme (TP, 8 Apr 2008). Interestingly, Teva Huiotu- April 2008). Shortly after the forma- Hapaitahaa, son-in-law of Michel tion of the new caucus, Tong Sang Yip, became minister of pearl farm- and his supporters fi led a motion of ing and interisland communications, defi ance against Flosse (TP, 10 April and Justine Teura’s daughter Ottine 2008). Teura obtained the portfolio of outer- At fi rst Temaru and Flosse appeared island development. This reinforced little impressed, and the next day they the impression that the two turncoat presented a declaration underlining representatives were “bought” by the commitment to their coalition promising them ministerial portfo- government with a detailed govern- lios for their family members (TP, 19 ing platform (TP, 11 Apr 2008). In the Apr 2008). Tong Sang also convinced pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 161

Tahoeraa representative Armelle previously left a poor record as admin- Merceron to join the cabinet as istrator of another territorial agency minister of solidarity and housing. In (TPM, June 2008). In June, the daugh- addition, he offered a fi fteenth cabinet ter of Hiro Tefaarere—a To Tatou Ai‘a position to a member of upld, but representative notorious for his erratic this was declined (TPM, May 2008). switches of allegiance—was appointed The latest change of government to a minor position at the post offi ce, demonstrated that the chronic politi- after her father had threatened another cal instability continues despite the fl oor-crossing (TPM, July 2008). political reforms intended to end it. The political unrest continued Since 2004, the country has seen only throughout the month of May, bare majorities, and an ever-increasing taking the form of a constant quar- number of politicians have adopted rel between Tong Sang’s government an opportunist pattern of behavior, and the udsp opposition. When the whereby they join whichever party is government submitted a series of most likely to form the majority. contracts of fi nancial assistance and Only eleven days after his inaugura- cooperation that were to be signed tion, Tong Sang reshuffl ed his cabinet, with the French government and sub- appointing Louis Frébault as minis- mitted to the assembly for approval ter for development planning after on 6 May, Speaker Temaru refused to his wife, a To Tatou Ai‘a assembly open the session, deferring it instead member from the Marquesas islands, to a date after the president’s planned had threatened to cross the fl oor. Two trip to Paris. A subsequent attempt weeks later, To Tatou Ai‘a representa- by the To Tatou Ai‘a caucus members tive Fernand Roomataroa from the to hold their own assembly session in Austral Islands was appointed min- another building was declared invalid ister of agriculture, after he criticized by the French High Commission (TP, Tong Sang and threatened defection to 7 May 2008). The contracts were Tahoeraa (pir, 16 May 2008). eventually approved, while Tong Sang Despite his promises of good was already in Paris, and signed by governance, President Tong Sang’s President Sarkozy on 27 May. The administration has thus followed the two presidents spoke of “turning the patterns of opportunism and nepotism pages” toward a new era of transpar- that have become typical of all local ency and cooperation between Paris governments. Another example is the and Papeete, denouncing “ancient Offi ce of Postal Services and Tele- practices” that had been detrimental communications, where Tong Sang to the country’s image (TPM, June resumed the deplorable practice of 2008). This was quite ironic, as Tong replacing existing offi cers with politi- Sang and his supporters have partici- cal cronies. The honest and effi cient pated in these “ancient practices” just Jean-Paul Barral, maintained in offi ce as much as their adversaries. While under Flosse, was removed by Tong promising a stricter scrutiny of the Sang on 9 May and replaced as direc- French government over the local tor by Jean-Christophe Bouissou’s government’s fi nances, the signed associate Moana Blanchard, who had contracts essentially renewed French 162 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) subsidies for various local businesses References and government agencies. A real, sub- stantial difference from the practices DT, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. of previous administrations remains to NT, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. be seen. TP, Tahitipresse. Daily Internet news. Meanwhile, all indicators showed Tahiti. http://www.tahitipresse.pf that the country’s economy was not performing well. The tourism sector TPM, Tahiti Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-pacifique.com continued to decline, and many territo- rial services did not function well, due pir, Pacific Islands Report. Daily Internet to constant changes of staff positions news. Honolulu. http://pidp.eastwestcenter depending on the current governments .org/pireport in offi ce. These effects can be ulti- mately linked to the country’s political instability, which is deplored by all Ma¯ori Issues sectors (TPM, May and June 2008). On 29 June, the territorial holiday In the latter part of 2007, relations commemorating the enactment of the between Mäori and the New Zealand 1984 statute of internal autonomy, government came close to the break- as well as the annexation of Tahiti by ing point. A raid carried out by a France in 1880, was celebrated by the New Zealand Police armed defenders presidency with great pomp. During squad in full combat gear trauma- the evening of the controversial holi- tized a small Mäori community in the day, Temaru and his supporters held central North Island on 15 October, their traditional ceremony at a monu- just weeks after the NZ government ment in Faa‘a to honor Tahitian sol- had joined Australia, Canada, and the diers who fell during the resistance to United States to vote against the adop- French colonization in the 1840s. This tion of a United Nations declaration year, Gaston Flosse, who had briefl y on indigenous rights. The raid coin- attended parts of the autonomy cel- cided with the release of a government ebrations in the morning, participated report showing that almost 20 percent in the Faa‘a ceremony for the fi rst of Mäori currently live in Australia. time. He laid a wreath and spoke in Many had left New Zealand for better honor of Polynesian resistance against economic opportunities, but also France, including on his home island “to escape the perceived prejudice of of Mangareva. He called for a greater, Päkehä (New Zealanders of European more visible monument to be built descent) and mainstream negativity (TP, 30 June 2008). Since for decades about Mäori issues” (Hamer 2007, Flosse had denounced the monument 14). Yet by mid-2008, with polls indi- and Temaru’s commemorations as cating the likelihood of a change of anti-French propaganda, his shift in government in the upcoming general attitude once more caused widespread election, Mäori started reaping the consternation (TPM, Aug 2008). benefi ts of a government desperate for our support, particularly in settling lorenz gonschor Mäori land claims.