The president of the French Polynesian assembly Marcel Tuihani has reportedly quit the Tahoeraa Huiraatira party led by Gaston Flosse over policy differences.
The resignation was announced by his father Mate Tuihani who himself quit as the party treasurer.
Marcel Tuihani is the party's second in command and the party's most senior politician in office after a corruption conviction in 2014 forced Flosse to relinquish the presidency.
Marcel Tuihani the president of the French Polynesian assembly. Photo: GREGORY BOISSY / AFP
Their departure comes as Flosse urged the party to vote for the pro-independence candidate Moetai Brotherson in the run-off vote for a seat in the French National Assembly later this month.
Tahiti media reports said the latest move by Flosse triggered their walkout.
Mate Tuihani said there had been too many turns, with the party switching support in the French presidential election three times until it backed Marine Le Pen while Flosse insisted it didn't amount to support for her party.
The Tahoeraa won an overwhelming majority in the last election but has faded after defections and expulsions.