Only three lists managed to reach the second round of these elections which could open the way to a referendum of self-determination of this overseas territory.
The independence list came out on top in the first round of territorial elections in French Polynesia, Sunday, April 16. She will face in the second round that of the outgoing autonomist president and another autonomist list, according to the provisional results communicated by the High Commission. None of the five other lists presented managed to reach the bar of 12.5% of the votes cast, which allowed access to the second round.
In the Territoriales, the Polynesians elect the 57 representatives of their Assembly. The winning list benefits from a strong majority bonus which guarantees it three-quarters of the seats. The local Assembly then elects its president and the president of French Polynesia, who constitutes its government. This overseas collectivity indeed enjoys considerable autonomy within the French Republic.
If they win the second round on April 30, the separatists will for the first time be in a position of strength against the French state and would be able to negotiate a process of “decolonization”, by means of a referendum of self-determination. .
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