The party of France's new president has decided to endorse the three candidates of French Polynesia's ruling Tapura Huiraatira party in next weekend's election of a new French National Assembly.
Emmanuel Macron's movement backed none of French Polynesia's politicians in the first round of voting but its Tahiti office has issued a statement to say it will support Maina Sage, Nicole Sanquer et Patrick Howell.
The three will face two candidates of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira and a pro-independence candidate.
Photo: AFP
A representative of Mr Macron's group said it could not back Tahoeraa politicians because it supported the National Front's Marine Le Pen in last month's presidential election.
And he said it was impossible to back a pro-independence politician who would use his election to have an anti-Republican platform.
He said the French parliament was not the lobby area of the United Nations, alluding to the pro-independence camp's unsuccessful bid to get Paris to engage in the decolonisation process.
In the first round of voting, Mr Macron's Republic on the Move won most votes and is predicted to secure a large majority.