French Polynesia's former president Gaston Flosse says he will go to France's highest court if necessary to be able to run in the territorial election in April.
Gaston Flosse Photo: RNZ
Flosse lost his civic rights and is banned from holding public office because of two corruption convictions in 2014 and 2016.
The courts ruled that the two spans of ineligibility will be added, which means Flosse's return to politics would have to wait until 2023 when he turns 91.
Flosse, however, insists that top French law professors agree with him and allow him to serve the two sentences concurrently which offers him a chance to stand this year.
He said he will try to enrol as a candidate, and if rejected, he will go from one court to the next, even to France's highest court.
A bid to enrol in Arue was rejected last month.
