French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch has been challenged to a televised pre-election debate by a former president who is barred from office because of a corruption conviction.
In 1997, Gaston Flosse was a political heavyweight in French Polynesia. He had a spy agency run from his office to monitor opponents and mistresses, while the Chriac government in Paris turned a blind eye - Mr Flosse supported nuclear tests in 1995. Photo: AFP or licensors
The challenge was laid down by Gaston Flosse who remains the leader of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira party.
There is no word yet whether Mr Fritch will enter such a debate.
Flosse, who has been barred from public office from 2014 to 2019, said there have been few occasions for the two of them to debate their ideas.
He said he wants to debate policies as 55 percent of people now live in poverty.
The Tahoeraa has put Geffry Salmon at the top of its list for next month's election, with Flosse tipped to become his advisor.
The Tahoeraa won most seats in last election but the party had since split with dissidents forming a new party with a majority in the assembly.
The President of French Polynesia Edouard Fritch speaks to journalists after a meeting with French Prime Minister at the Hotel Matignon in Paris on June 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JACQUES DEMARTHON Photo: AFP or licensors