1 Apr 2014

Mayor of French Polynesia capital re-elected

3:15 pm on 1 April 2014

The mayor of French Polynesia's capital, Michel Buillard, has been re-elected for a further term after winning the run-off round of the municipal election.

The veteran politician is one of few winning candidates linked to the Tahoeraa Huiraatira, which failed to replicate its success at last year's territorial election.

Many townships re-elected the incumbents, including Philip Schyle, Bruno Sandras, Patrice Jamet and Tony Tumahai on Tahiti in the run-off.

In Paea, also on Tahiti, Jacquie Graffe was re-elected without campaigning as he lay in hospital for a toe amputation because of his diabetes.

In Faaone, the run-off involved a record six candidates, with the winner Isidore Picard being elected with just a quarter of the votes.

With the defeat of Valentina Cross, there is no woman mayor left in the territory.

The mayor of Tematangi, Aberahama Fariki, failed to be re-elected.

He was allowed to stand although he had been given a jail sentence for crippling his half-brother in 2012.