French Polynesia Sports Minister Madam Nicole Sanquer. Photo: ONOC
French Polynesia's ruling Tapura Huiraatira Party has decided against the expulsion of a senior member, Nicole Sanquer, despite her refusal to sit with her party in the assembly.
Ms Sanquer, who is a former minister and now a member of the French National Assembly, said there was a malaise in the party as it failed to live up to its electoral promises.
The party leader Edouard Fritch said her reasons for sitting as an independent were laughable and warned her that the insidious enemy of the party was division.
Earlier this week, he said it was not possible to be in the party and also outside of it.
However, a party leadership meeting has left the relationship unchanged.
Ms Sanquer has also said that in the municipal election in March, she will vie to become the mayor of Mahina as the top candidate of a new electoral list.
The Tapura membership is made up almost exclusively of people who either defected or were expelled from the once dominant Tahoeraa Huiraatira of Gaston Flosse.
In last year's election, the Tapura won two thirds of all seats.
French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch addresses inaugural Economic Forum Photo: supplied French Polynesian presidency