4 Apr 2018

Foul play claimed in registering Tahiti election candidates

From , 3:03 pm on 4 April 2018

There are claims of intimidation and obstruction in the run-up to French Polynesia's election.

More than 200 candidates won't be able to stand because they filed their applications late or because their documentation was incomplete.

Some say mayors and officials were obstructing their endeavours to get things done on time. 

As a result, the leader of the newly formed Our Movement Tevai Haumani has written to the French president Emmanuel Macron asking for the election due in just over two weeks to be deferred to a later date.

He says he wants the basic civic rights of those wanting to stand to be protected against pressures within a system that he says is riddled with corruption.

Mr Haumani says the French High Commission has not responded to his concerns while the administrative court advised him to go to the criminal court if he wished to pursue the issue.

He spoke to Walter Zweifel.

New party fails in bid to stand in 2018 election

New party fails in bid to stand in 2018 election Photo: NotreMouvement website