French Polynesia's former president Gaston Flosse won't be allowed to stand in the territorial election in April.
Gaston Flosse Photo: AFP
The decision was made by the special court dealing with electoral matters in Tahiti after Flosse's lawyer challenged an earlier ruling on the matter.
Flosse lost his civic rights and has been banned from holding public office because of two corruption convictions in 2014 and 2016.
The two sentences both carry spans of ineligibility to hold office.
The court upheld the interpretation that they have to be served one after the other, meaning he is banned until next year.
However, Flosse's lawyer argued that they can be served at the same time, which would clear the way for him to register as a candidate for this year's polls.
Flosse is expected to appeal to France's highest court in the hope to be able to register by the deadline of 23 March.