French Polynesia's Tapura Huiraatira presents candidates

3:29 pm on 19 March 2018

French Polynesia's ruling Tapura Huiraatira party has held its congress to present its candidates for next month's territorial election.

Edouard Fritch

Edouard Fritch Photo: Supplied/ Présidence de la Polynésie française

Six of the eight regional sections are being led by mayors, including Edouard Fritch and Gaston Tong Sang who is also a former president.

Both received corruption convictions during the past term but remain eligible to run for office.

The Tapura holds 34 of the 57 assembly seats and expects to retain its majority.

It was formed only 13 months ago after expulsions and defections from the Tahoeraa Huiraatira party of Gaston Flosse whose corruption convictions ban him from holding office until 2019.

The Tapura list also incorporates leaders of now disbanded anti-independence parties.

There has been lobbying and jockeying at the local level before the weekend release of the Tapura list, with Mr Fritch conceding he couldn't rejuvenate the line-up as much as he wished.

The first round of voting will be on 22 April.

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