French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch Photo: supplied
France's interior ministry will seek a court ruling on whether French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch can retain the presidency, if his party win next year's territorial election.
This was announced by the French High Commissioner to French Polynesia, Eric Spitz, during an interview in Tahiti.
The law states that the president's position can only be held for two consecutive five-year terms.
In 2018, Fritch was elected for a five-year term, but he had already served for four years before, after Gaston Flosse was forced to relinquish the top job because of a corruption sentence.
Spitz said the matter needs to be clarified by France's highest administrative court before the polls.
Fritch said irrespective of the legal situation, he will lead his Tapura Huiraatira Party into the election.
In 2018, Tapura won 38 of the assembly's 57 seats despite nine of its candidates having corruption convictions.