French Polynesia's ruling Tapura Huiraatira Party is poised to expel a senior member, Nicole Sanquer, after she decided last week to sit in the assembly as an independent while remaining a party member.
Nicole Sanquer. Photo: ONOC
Ms Sanquer, who until two years ago was a minister before securing one of the seats in the French Assembly, said she had policy disagreements with her party.
Party leader Edouard Fritch said her reasons were laughable and warned her that the insidious enemy of the party was division.
He said it was not possible to be in the party and also outside of it.
However, Ms Sanquer said there was a malaise in the party as it would not live up to its electoral promises.
There had to be a more equitable distribution of wealth as too many people missed out and were excluded from society, she said.
Most members of the Tapura used to be members of the once dominant Tahoeraa Huiraatira party led by Gaston Flosse.
In last year's election, the Tapura won two thirds of all seats.