Gaston Flosse (born 24 June 1931) is a French politician who has been

President of French Polynesia , flag = , flagsize = , flagcaption = , insignia = Coat of arms of French Polynesia.svg , insigniasize = , insigniacaption = Coat of arms of French ...

on five separate occasions. He is currently a member of the

Senate of France The Senate (french: Sénat, ) is the upper house of the French Parliament, with the lower house being the National Assembly, the two houses constituting the legislature of France. The French Senate is made up of 348 senators (''sénateurs'' a ...

and has been a French junior minister under

Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac (, , ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. Chirac was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988, as well as Ma ...

. He received sentences for corruption, which are under appeal.

Life and career

Flosse was born in

Rikitea Rikitea is a small town on Mangareva, which is part of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. A majority of the islanders live in Rikitea. The island was a protectorate of France in 1871 and was annexed in 1881. History The town's history date ...

Mangareva Mangareva is the central and largest island of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. It is surrounded by smaller islands: Taravai in the southwest, Aukena and Akamaru in the southeast, and islands in the north. Mangareva has a permanent p ...

, French Polynesia. He is of both French and Polynesian descent. Flosse supports the current autonomy arrangement between French Polynesia and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and has led the

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

pro-autonomy and anti-independence party Tahoera'a Huiraatira (People's Rally for the Republic Party) for more than 20 years. He was the vice-president of the government council from 1982 to 1984, when more autonomy was gained and he became President of the Governing Council. He held that position from 1984 to 1987 and from 1991 to 2004. On 27 February 2004 French Polynesian autonomy was again increased, and Flosse became President of French Polynesia (''Le président de la Polynésie française''). Shortly after, though, his party lost the

parliamentary elections A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

, and on June 15, he left office when the parliament, the

Assembly of French Polynesia The Assembly of French Polynesia (french: Assemblée de la Polynésie française, Tahitian: Te apo'ora'a rahi o te fenua Mā'ohi) is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic. It is located at Plac ...

(''Assemblée de la Polynésie française''), elected the pro-independence leader,

Oscar Temaru Oscar Manutahi Temaru (born November 1, 1944) is a French politician. He has been President of French Polynesia (''président de la Polynésie française''), an overseas collectivity of France, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from ...

, to the post. On 22 October 2004 he was re-elected to the presidency, and he took office that day, although doubt was cast on the legitimacy of this election by

Antony Géros Antony Daniel Teva Géros (born 22 July 1956) is a French Polynesian politician and former Cabinet Minister. He has served as vice-president of French Polynesia three times, and as President of the Assembly of French Polynesia twice. Since 2020 ...

, the President of the French Polynesia Assembly (see French Polynesia political crisis 2004). On 13 February 2005 Flosse's party lost the parliamentary

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...

s, which had been called as a compromise after pressure from Temaru's supporters. On 15 February 2005 Flosse lost the presidency again in a parliamentary confidence vote, and on 3 March 2005 Temaru took over. Apart from having been president of the territory, he has also been both tourism minister and housing minister. He is the mayor of Pirea municipality north of

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeete'', pronounced ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The Communes of France, commune of Papeete is located on the isl ...

and has represented the territory in the National Assembly of France. He was first elected to the Senate of France on 1 October 1998. Flosse was able to govern French Polynesia with the support of centrist parties and groupings. He and French President

have a close personal association, Chirac being a godfather to Flosse's youngest son. This relationship, of course has given the Tahitian special access to the highest levels of power in France, which he has utilised in negotiating aid packages and financial support for the territory. On 21 June 2006 Flosse was convicted of corruption and given a three-month suspended sentence. The court found that he had abused his political office in connection with a hotel purchase. He continued to be a member of the territorial assembly and French Senate. Flosse's party came third in the February 2008 legislative assembly elections, but with the support of

and his UPLD (Union for Democracy) party, which came second, Flosse became President of French Polynesia again on 23 February 2008. He was replaced by

Gaston Tong Sang Gaston Tong Sang (born August 7, 1949 in Bora Bora) is a French politician and is the former President of French Polynesia. He served terms as President of French Polynesia from November 2009 until April 2011, from April 2008 until February 2009 ...

after losing a vote of confidence on 15 April 2008, however. Flosse was re-elected to the French Senate in the September 2008 Senate election. In January 2022 Flosse declared his support for independence for French Polynesia, saying that autonomy within France had worked as long as

was French president and had since been eroded.

Political career

Governmental function Secretary of State for South Pacific : 1986-1988. Electoral mandates ''European Parliament'' Member of European Parliament for France : 1984-1986 (Became ministre in 1986). ''National Assembly of France'' Member of the National Assembly of France for French Polynesia (2nd constituency) : 1978-1982 (Resignation) March–April 1986 (Became minister in 1986) / 1993-1997. Elected in 1978, reelected in 1981, 1986, 1993. ''Senate of France'' Senator of French Polynesia : 1998-2014. Elected in 1998, reelected in 2008. Deprived by the

Constitutional Council of France The Constitutional Council (french: Conseil constitutionnel; ) is the highest constitutional authority in France. It was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958 to ensure that constitutional principles and rules ...

on 16 September 2014. ''Presidency of the French Polynesia'' President of the French Polynesia : 2004-2005 / February–April 2008 / 2013-2014. Deprived by the Council of State on 5 September 2014. President of the government of French Polynesia : 1984-1987 / 1991-2004. Reelected in 1991, 1996 and 2001. Vice-president of the government of French Polynesia : 1982-1984. ''French Polynesia Territorial Assembly'' President of the

: 1972-1974 / 1976-1977.Le président - Assemblée de la Polynésie française
/ref> Member of the

: 1967-2014. Reelected in 1972, 1977, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2013. Deprived by the

Council of State A Council of State is a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or it may refer to a non-executive advisory body associated with a head o ...

on 5 September 2014. ''Municipal Council'' Mayor of

Pirae Pīra'e is a commune in the suburbs of Pape'ete in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Pīra'e is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, themselves part ...

: 1965-2000 (Resignation). Reelected in 1971, 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995. Municipal councillor of

: 1965-2000 (Resignation). Reelected in 1971, 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flosse, Gaston 1931 births French Senators of the Fifth Republic Living people People from the Gambier Islands Presidents of French Polynesia Tahoera'a Huiraatira politicians Senators of French Polynesia Speakers of the Assembly of French Polynesia Heads of government who were later imprisoned French politicians convicted of crimes French politicians convicted of corruption Recipients of the Order of Tahiti Nui

Life and career

Political career

See also

References