Tāvini Huiraʻatira Explained

Country:French Polynesia
Tavini Huiraʻatira
Native Name:Tāvini Huiraʻatira nō te Ao Māʻohi
Leader1 Title:President
Leader1 Name:Oscar Temaru
Leader2 Title:Vice President
Leader2 Name:Anthony Geros
Foundation:1977 (FLP)
1986 (current)
Headquarters:Faʻaʻā, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Position:Centre-left[1] to left-wing
National:Democratic and Republican Left group
NUPES
New Popular Front (2024–present)
Colours:Blue, azure
Seats1 Title:National Assembly (French Polynesian seats)
Seats2 Title:Senate (French Polynesian seats)
Seats4 Title:Assembly of French Polynesia

Tāvini Huiraʻatira, also known as Tāvini huiraʻatira nō te ao māʻohi – FLP, is a pro-independence political party in French Polynesia. Founded in 1977 as the Front de libération de la Polynésie (FLP), the party has been led since its inception by Oscar Temaru. From 2004 to 2013 it was part of the Union for Democracy (UPLD) coalition.

The Tavini has primarily been an opposition party, but between 2004 and 2013 governed French Polynesia at various times as part of various coalition arrangements.

History

The party was founded in 1977 by Oscar Temaru under the name the Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (FLP). In 1983 it changed its name to Tāvini huiraʻatira nō te ao māʻohi – FLP and adopted the motto Te Atua tāʻu fatu ("The Lord is my master"). It contested the 1983 municipal elections, which saw Temaru win the mayoralty of Faʻaʻā for the first time.

At the 1986 election the party won two seats in the Assembly of French Polynesia.[2] It won four seats at the 1991 election,[3] ten at the 1996 election,[4] and 13 at the 2001 election.[5]

At the 2004 elections it joined with Aia Api, Here Ai'a, and Ia Mana te Nunaa to form the Union for Democracy (UPLD) coalition.[6] The coalition won 27 out of 57 seats.[7] Defeated president Gaston Flosse attempted to have the elections declared invalid in an effort to retain power,[8] and the colonial government threatened financial sanctions if Temaru was elected,[9] but Temaru was elected President of French Polynesia on 14 June 2004.[10] He was ousted in a no-confidence vote four months later,[11] beginning an extended period in which the presidency alternated between Temaru, Flosse, and Gaston Tong Sang. The coalition won 19 of 57 seats at the 2008 election, but the alternation of governments and coalition rearrangements continued. Temaru was re-elected president with the support of Tahoera'a Huiraatira in February 2009,[12] lost power again in November,[13] and was re-elected again in April 2011.[14] The UPLD-led coalition then held power until its defeat at the 2013 elections.[15] Shortly after the elections the United Nations restored French Polynesia to the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories, a key goal of the Tavini.[16] [17]

In the 2017 French legislative election, Moetai Brotherson became the first member of Tavini Huiraatira elected to the French National Assembly.[18]

At the 2018 election the party won only eight seats.[19]

In the 2022 French National Assembly election the party won all three of the French Polynesian constituencies.[20]

On 10 March 2023 the party announced that Moetai Brotherson would be their candidate for the presidency in the 2023 French Polynesian legislative election.[21] It released its full party list on 17 March.[22] The party led the first round, with 35% of the vote.[23]

Election results

Territorial elections

Year1st round2nd roundSeats
scope=colVotesscope=col%scope=colPlacescope=colVotesscope=col%scope=colPlace
19865th
19914th
19962nd
20012nd
2004Part of Union for Democracy (UPLD)
2008Part of Union for Democracy (UPLD)
2013Part of Union for Democracy (UPLD)
201820.73rd23.13rd
202334.91st44.31st

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: France .
  2. News: Flosse landslide victory unites opposition leaders . Pacific Islands Monthly . 57 . 5 . 1 May 1986 . 24 January 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  3. French Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1990 to 30 June 1991 . Rapaport . Moshe . The Contemporary Pacific . 4 . 1 . 1992 . 196–199 . 23 January 2023 .
  4. French Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996 . Von Strokirch . Karin . The Contemporary Pacific . 9 . 1 . 1997 . 227–233 . 23 January 2023 .
  5. French Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 . Von Strokirch . Karin . The Contemporary Pacific . 14 . 1 . 2002 . 213–219 . 23 January 2023 .
  6. Web site: French Polynesian minor parties join forces for May election . RNZ . 15 April 2004 . 22 January 2023.
  7. Web site: Ruling French Polynesia Party has lost its absolute majority in assembly elections . RNZ . 27 May 2004 . 24 January 2023.
  8. Web site: French Polynesian president tries to get elections declared invalid . RNZ . 31 May 2004 . 24 January 2023.
  9. Web site: France reportedly threatens financial sanction if Oscar Temaru takes power in French Polynesia . RNZ . 3 June 2004 . 24 January 2023.
  10. Web site: Oscar Temaru elected as new President of French Polynesia . RNZ . 15 June 2004 . 24 January 2023.
  11. Web site: French Polynesian government ousted in no-confidence move . RNZ . 10 October 2004 . 24 January 2023.
  12. Web site: Temaru elected leader of French Polynesia . RNZ . 12 February 2009 . 24 January 2023.
  13. Web site: French Polynesian assembly votes out Temaru government . RNZ . 25 November 2009 . 24 January 2023.
  14. Web site: French Polynesia's Tong Sang ousted by Temaru . RNZ . 2 April 2011 . 24 January 2023.
  15. Web site: Temaru says poor economy led to his French Polynesia election loss . RNZ . 7 May 2013 . 24 January 2023.
  16. Web site: Temaru poised to attend UN decolonisation vote . RNZ . 16 March 2013 . 24 January 2023.
  17. Web site: UN puts French Polynesia back on UN decolonisation list . RNZ . 18 May 2013 . 24 January 2023.
  18. Web site: Tahiti MP keen on joining new overseas French group . RNZ . 19 June 2017 . 24 January 2023.
  19. Web site: French Polynesia incumbent wins resounding election victory . RNZ . 8 May 2018 . 24 January 2023.
  20. Web site: Pro-independence candidates in Tahiti win seats in French National Assembly . RNZ . 20 June 2022 . 20 June 2022.
  21. Web site: Moetai Brotherson brigue la présidence de la Polynésie . Tahiti Infos . fr . 10 March 2023 . 11 March 2023.
  22. Web site: La liste complète du Tavini . Tahiti Infos . fr . 17 March 2023 . 20 March 2023.
  23. Web site: Oscar Temaru's Tavini Huiraatira party wins round one of French Polynesia's territorial elections . RNZ . 18 April 2023 . 18 April 2023.