Pacific / French Polynesia

Fritch says losers foster Tahiti instability

13:46 pm on 10 April 2015

French Polynesia's president, Edouard Fritch, has used his speech at the opening of the assembly session to lash out at rivals within his pro-autonomy camp.

The session opened just days after the ruling Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party expelled the vice-president, Nuihau Laurey, and three other senior members amid a disagreement over who should stand for the French Senate next month.

Without naming the party president, Gaston Flosse, and his backers, Mr Fritch says anyone can see that the instability some want to create is just another remake of those who refuse to lose power.

Flosse lost the presidency last year when he was convicted of corruption and given a suspended jail sentence.

The four who have been expelled from the Tahoeraa have the support of Mr Fritch.

Flosse says he expects Mr Fritch to form a new party.