Pacific

Tong Sang nominated as French Polynesia candidate for French assembly

17:21 pm on 1 March 2012

French Polynesia's opposition To Tatou Aia has named its candidates for the territory's three seats in this year's election of a new French national assembly.

The three are Gaston Tong Sang, Poema Tang and Tearii Alpha.

Mr Tong Sang was the president on several occasions - the last time until April.

French Polynesia has been given an extra seat from this year, taking into account population shifts.

The two incumbents, Michel Buillard and Bruno Sandras, were elected as candidates of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party but have since fallen out with the party and left it.

Last week, the Tahoeraa nominated its candidates who include Edouard Fritch, the son-in-law of the Tahoeraa founder and member of the French Senate, Gaston Flosse.