The leader of France's National Front Marine Le Pen has expressed her appreciation for the support given to her presidential election campaign by French Polynesia's Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party.
Marine Le Pen Photo: AFP
The Tahoeraa decided to endorse her in the race to replace Francois Hollande as French president next month after the party was rebuffed by The Republicans which had been the erstwhile associates of the Tahoeraa leader Gaston Flosse.
Speaking on public television, she acknowledged that Flosse had multiple corruption convictions and was banned from office but said he was still the spokesperson for the aspirations of a majority of French Polynesians.
Flosse was adamant that his party was only supporting her and not - in any way - her party.
Last month, he accused a Polynesie Premiere journalist of being a liar and wanted her to be sacked because her report linked his support for Mrs Le Pen's candidacy with support for her National Front.