Political crisis in the Polynesian majority seven months from the Territoriales

Three executives of the Polynesian majority autonomist party resigned on Wednesday, seven months before the Territorial, the most important local election in this overseas community.

Senator Teva Rohfritsch and the elected representatives of the majority Nicole Bouteau and Philip Schyle announced in a joint letter their resignation from Tapura Huiraatira, the party of Polynesian President Édouard Fritch.

They also resign from the group of the same name in the local assembly.

The departure of three pillars of his party is a blow for Édouard Fritch, whose party has already suffered a major setback in the legislative elections.

In the second round, its three candidates, including Nicole Bouteau, were beaten by three separatists, including the youngest member of the National Assembly, Tematai Legayic.

"

Stinging Defeat

"

In their letter addressed to Edouard Fritch, the three resigning political figures believe that it is his governance that explains this "

" and deplore his lack of reaction.

"

," they wrote to the president.

Without naming him, they are targeting former Vice President Tearii Alpha, who had refused to be vaccinated and had invited several hundred guests to his wedding in the midst of a pandemic.

Édouard Fritch, himself a guest, had played the guitar on stage, when he had banned such gatherings a few days earlier.

Despite the outcry caused by this affair in August 2021, Édouard Fritch had chosen to keep Tearii Alpha in government, where he is still Minister of Agriculture.

The resigners also regret "

".

In a press release, the Tapura Huiraatira indicated that these resignations were “

”.

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Teva Rohfrisch had been vice-president and minister of the Economy in the government of French Polynesia until 2020, before resigning to stand for senatorial elections.

Nicole Bouteau was Minister of Labor and Tourism, but resigned at the end of 2021 to protest against the continued government of Tearii Alpha.

A few days earlier, the mayor of Papara, a commune in Tahiti, had announced that he was leaving Tapura Huiraatira to join the separatists.

Even if he retains his majority in the assembly of French Polynesia and the support of many mayors, the division of the autonomists puts Édouard Fritch in difficulty a few months from the Territorial.

He presents himself to his own estate.