French Polynesia's Tourism Minister Nicole Bouteau, resigned in protest at Tearii Alpha keeping his portfolios. Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP
Two former government ministers in French Polynesia have formed a new political party ahead of next year's election.
The Ia Ora Te Nuna'a party was launched by Nicole Bouteau and Teva Rohfritsch who had resigned from the ruling Tapura Huiraatira party three months ago.
Tahiti-infos quotes the new leaders as saying the party will work towards more social justice and sustainable development.
They had quit the Tapura, saying they were disappointed with President Edouard Fritch's way of running the government.
The Tapura suffered a setback in June when its three candidates running for the French National Assembly were beaten by the three rivals of the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira.
Bouteau was one of the unsuccessful Tapura candidates.
She had resigned as tourism minister last year in protest at Fritch retaining Tearii Alpha as a minister, despite him flouting the vaccination law.
Both Fritch and Alpha were fined for partying at a large wedding in defiance of restrictions imposed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when French Polynesians were dying.
Rohfritsch is a former vice-president and now a member of the French Senate.
The territorial election is due in April to choose a new 57-member assembly for a five-year term.
In 2018, the Tapura won two thirds of all seats.