French Polynesia president Gaston Tong Sang is stepping down ahead of a censure motion against his government on Wednesday.
During a special ministerial meeting in Tahiti on Saturday, he said the resignation - which entails the resignation of his ministers - was "immediate".
He has been in office since April. Six members of his coalition have quit in the past two months.
Members of the UPLD, Tahoera'a, and Rautahi parties have put forward separatist leader Oscar Temaru as a candidate for the presidency.
