There is controversy in French Polynesia over who is allowed to represent France's ruling En Marche party in Tahiti.
Tahiti politician Tauhiti Nena Photo: AFP
Tauhiti Nena, who heads the political party Tau Hoturau, said after meeting En Marche representatives in Paris he plans to represent Emmanuel Macron's party at the territorial election in April.
Mr Nena, who was the education minister until 2013, says he is planning to join forces with the local Greens and then carry the mantle of the French party.
But Heimana Garbet, who has been En Marche's spokesperson, has issued a statement, saying unauthorised information is circulating about official representation of En Marche.
It said unless there was an instruction to the contrary, Mr Garbet, who was a member of the party's national council, is the only person allowed to communicate in the name of the party.
En Marche has no formal party in Tahiti.
In last year's French presidential election, Mr Macron was supported by most parties once he had reached the run-off.
The Tahoeraa Huiraatira of Gaston Flosse backed his rival Marine Le Pen.