Tapura Huiraatira

Tapura Huiraatira. It is a major centre-right political party in French Polynesia, founded in 2016 by a coalition of politicians including then-President Édouard Fritch and minister Nicole Bouteau. The party advocates for autonomism within the French Republic, liberal economic policies, and strong ties with Metropolitan France and the European Union. Since its formation, it has dominated the Assembly of French Polynesia, providing political stability and maintaining the presidency of the collectivity.

History

The party was established in February 2016 following a significant schism within the long-dominant Tahoeraa Huiraatira, the party founded by Gaston Flosse. Key figures, including President Édouard Fritch and several ministers like Nicole Bouteau and Teva Rohfritsch, departed after internal conflicts over leadership and strategy. This rupture was precipitated by Flosse's legal ineligibility to hold office following a 2014 conviction by the Court of Cassation. The new group quickly consolidated power, with Fritch being re-elected as President of French Polynesia with support from other parties like A Ti'a Porinetia. In the 2018 territorial elections, the party secured a decisive majority in the Assembly of French Polynesia, solidifying its control. It repeated this success in the 2023 election, further marginalizing its main rival, Tavini Huiraatira, led by Oscar Temaru.

Ideology and platform

Tapura Huiraatira's core ideology is autonomism, supporting the current autonomy statute and a continued political relationship with Metropolitan France. The party is strongly pro-European and advocates for deeper integration with the European Union, often highlighting economic benefits from programs like the European Development Fund. Its economic platform promotes liberal policies, including support for private investment, tourism development—particularly in islands like Bora Bora and Moorea—and the expansion of the Papeete port. On social issues, it generally takes a pragmatic, centre-right stance, contrasting with the pro-independence agenda of Tavini Huiraatira.

Electoral performance

The party first contested the 2018 territorial election, winning a commanding 38 out of 57 seats in the Assembly of French Polynesia, which allowed it to form a stable government under Édouard Fritch. In the 2023 election, it successfully defended its majority, again securing 38 seats and demonstrating resilience against the Tavini Huiraatira coalition. In French national elections, the party is affiliated with The Republicans and supports their candidates; for instance, it backed Valérie Pécresse in the 2022 presidential race. Its candidates, such as Nicole Sanquer, have also been elected to the French Senate, representing French Polynesia in Paris.

Leadership and structure

The party is led by its founder, Édouard Fritch, who serves as both party president and President of French Polynesia. Other prominent figures include Vice-President Teva Rohfritsch, former minister Nicole Bouteau, and the President of the Assembly of French Polynesia, Gaston Tong Sang. The organizational structure is centralized around its parliamentary group, with strong discipline maintained in the Assembly of French Polynesia. Key decisions are often made by an executive council comprising veteran politicians from the former Tahoeraa Huiraatira, mayors from major communes like Pirae and Arue, and representatives from the Austral Islands and the Marquesas Islands.

International relations

Internationally, Tapura Huiraatira fosters close ties with Metropolitan France and actively engages with French institutions like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior. The party is a vocal advocate within the European Union, seeking increased development funding and attention to specific challenges such as climate change in the Pacific Ocean. Regionally, it maintains diplomatic and economic relationships with other Pacific Islands Forum members, including New Caledonia, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, while consistently opposing the independence movement supported by neighboring entities like Vanuatu and the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Category:Political parties in French Polynesia Category:2016 establishments in French Polynesia Category:Centre-right political parties in France