A minister in the previous government of the French Polynesian president, Gaston Flosse, has formed a new political party, called Porinetia Ora.
Reynald Temarii made the announcement less than two weeks after quitting Mr Flosse's Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party over policy differences, saying he made mistakes between 1995 and May 2004 when Mr Flosse was ousted.
Mr Temarii, who is also the president of the Oceania Football Confederation, says the territory is beset by incessant bipartisan quarrels when there is a need to work together.
He says he is opposed to independence from France but he is not against those advocating independence.
Mr Temarii declined to say whether he will form an alliance with the two pro-autonomy parties, No Oe e Te Nunaa and Fetia Api, which have decided to contest jointly the by-election expected in February.
