The highest court in France has rejected an appeal by French Polynesia's former president Gaston Flosse to be allowed to stand in next month's election.
Gaston Flosse Photo: AFP
Flosse has been serving two suspended jail sentences for corruption and been declared ineligible to hold public office twice.
Courts in Tahiti ruled that the sentences have to be served consecutively, meaning he is barred from office until 2019.
Flosse however argued that the two sentences could be served at the same time which would allow him to run for office in this year's election.
The ruling in Paris means that Flosse can next run for office in Tahiti in 2023 when he will be 91 years old.
Before the Paris decision, he said a woman would top his party's list, should he be unable to run.
In the last election in 2013, his Tahoeraa Huiraatira party had won two thirds of the assembly seats but the party has since split and lost most members.
Gaston Flosse during 2013 election campaign Photo: RNZ