The leader of French Polynesia's pro-independence movement Oscar Temaru is meeting politicians in Corsica in his bid to be a candidate in next year's French presidential election.
French Polynesia leader Oscar Temaru. Photo: RNZI
Mr Temaru said so far 217 elected politicians are endorsing him but he needs a total of 500 in at least 30 departments to be able to stand.
He said he will have to travel around France but is confident he will secure enough backers.
Mr Temaru said his aim is to win most votes in Tahiti and not in mainland France as part of his quest for independence and he told a news conference in Corsica that there can be no democracy in a country under supervision.
The right of the peoples to self-determination is in the French constitution he said.
