The leader of France's National Front says she would rather have an immoral republic in French Polynesia than no republic at all.
Marine Le Pen made the comment after returning from a visit to the French Pacific, during which she had a private meeting in Tahiti with the leader of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira, Gaston Flosse, who is also a French senator.
She says they discussed the issue of independence, which has been a prominent topic amid the territorial government's decolonisation campaign.
Gaston Flosse's party is expected to do well in next month's election despite him getting two long jail sentences for corruption this year.
Both convictions are being appealed, allowing him to keep standing for office.