The separatist Moetai Brotherson was elected Friday president of French Polynesia, by the representatives of the local Assembly.
He was chosen by the 38 separatist representatives of the Assembly, elected in the territorial elections of April 30. In a Territorial Assembly of 57 seats, where the separatists thus have a strong majority, the representatives also granted 16 votes to the outgoing autonomist president Édouard Fritch, and 3 to another autonomist candidate, Nicole Sanquer.
The day before, they had elected the day before another separatist, Antony Géros, at the head of this institution. In a speech delivered without notes, Moetai Brotherson assured France of its respect ” while calling on the population not to “ not fear independence ”, which will only be “ never imposed to the Polynesians. Despite the re-registration in 2013 of French Polynesia on the UN list of non-autonomous territories to be decolonized, France has never wished to engage in negotiations around the decolonization of this community.
Towards self-determination in 10 to 15 years for the new president
Far from the peaceful spirit displayed by Moetai Brotherson, the new President of the Assembly, Antony Géros, felt in his first speech that France had “ used his authority to make and break the majorities according to his interest, until coming to instrumentalize the elected officials during the political instability, between 2004 and 2013. Antony Géros, a close friend of Oscar Temaru, the founding president of Tavini Huiraatira, represents the radical line of the Polynesian independence party, which wants rapid independence.
Moetai Brotherson on the contrary indicated that he hoped for a referendum of self-determination “ in 10 to 15 years » and estimated « not being able to get there in the next five years under good conditions “. Their large majority not having much to fear from the autonomist opposition, the main question concerns the coexistence between these two lines, one of which will control the government and the other the assembly.
► To read also: Interview – Elections in French Polynesia: “The future of Polynesia within the framework of the Republic is at stake”
(With AFP)