The Fetia Api or Nouvelle Étoile ( en, New Star) was a centre-right political party in French Polynesia from 1996 to 2016, advocating for the autonomy of French Polynesia. The party was led by

Boris Léontieff Boris may refer to: People * Boris (given name), a male given name *:''See'': List of people with given name Boris * Boris (surname) * Boris I of Bulgaria (died 907), the first Christian ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire, canonized after his ...

, former mayor of Arue since 1989, and then subsequently led by Philip Schyle after 2002. The party was once one of the oldest in French Polynesia, spanning over 20 years. Originally the party was first associated with the french Union for French Democracy (UDF) party, but in 2007 it was part of dissidents who split away from the UDF and created the New Centre (NC). Philip Schyle was elected the Foreign Minister for the NC, and Fetia Api helped with public financial contributions. In 2016, the party was dissolved, with the members becoming part of the newly formed Tapura Huiraatira (TAPURA) party.

History

1996 Election

Creation of the Fetia Api party by

, mayor of Arue since 1989. Territorial elections of 1996 in French Polynesia:

elected to French Polynesian Assembly, and party wins 1 seat.

2001 Elections

In the 2001 Territorial elections, 7 members were elected.

2002 Plane crash

On 24 May 2002 a light plane carrying party leader

, officials of Lucien Kimitete and

Arsen Tuairau Arsen (in Armenian language, Armenian, Արսեն; Georgian language, Georgian, არსენ; Russian language, Russian, ; Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, ) is a given name, a diminutive of Greek ''Arsenios''. Notable people with the name include ...

, and substitute candidate Ferfine Besseyre, disappeared on a flight to

Makemo Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia. History Makemo is the home of legendary Polynesian hero Moeava. The first recorded European to arrive to Makemo Atoll was English pearl merchant Jo ...

in the

Tuamotus The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (french: Îles Tuamotu, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extendin ...

. The French colonial government refused to delay the elections.

2003 President

Philip Schyle is elected as the President of the Fetia Api party.

2004 Election

At the 2004 election the party contested with its own list winning one seat on Windward Islands, electing Philip Schyle. The party was also part of the Tapura Amui No Te Faatereraa Manahune – Tuhaa Pae coalition during this election for the seats on the

Austral Islands The Austral Islands (french: Îles Australes, officially ''Archipel des Australes;'' ty, Tuha'a Pae) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic in the South Pacific. Geographically, t ...

, as well as part of the

Tapura Amui no Raromatai The Tapura Amui No Raromatai is a political party in French Polynesia. At the last legislative elections on May 23, 2004, and by-elections on February 13, 2005, the party was part of the Union for the Democracy (''Union pour la Démocratie''), th ...

coalition for the Leeward Islands. For the Leeward islands, the party's Patricia Jennings-Pahio was elected. Following the 2004 elections, the party held the balance of power, and sided with 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 ...

. In the 10 member government, two Fetia Api members were elected. They were Marie-Laure Vanizette and Francis Stein. Antonio Perez dissidents to create the rival Te Avei'a party.

2005 Partial Election

Following the collapse of Temaru's government, the party united with Nicole Bouteau to contest the 2005 Partial French Polynesian Election as the Alliance for a New Democracy (ADN), with party president Philip Schyle re-elected in the constituency of the Windward Islands. The party did not join the subsequent Temaru government.

2006 and After

In 2006 the party's leader Philip Schyle elected President of the Assembly of French Polynesia with the surprise support of Tahoeraa by 29 votes against 28 for outgoing President Tony Geros (UPLD - Tavini). He was elected for a second term in 2009. In 2007 the party leader Philip Schyle was assigned as Foreign Minister for the french party New Centre (NC). In the

2008 election This electoral calendar 2008 lists the national/federal direct elections held in 2008 in the de jure and de facto sovereign states and their dependent territories. Referendums are included, even though they are not elections. By-elections are no ...

the party ran on a common list with

O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a ‘O Pōrīnetia To Tātou ‘Ai‘a ("Polynesia, a Homeland for us all") was a French Polynesian anti-independence political party founded by Gaston Tong Sang on 1 October 2007 after he split from his former party, the Tāhō‘ēra‘a Huira� ...

and other small autonomist parties called "To Tātou ‘Ai‘a" (Homeland for us all). In 2012, Philip Schyle and so the Fetia Api party become members of the short lived Rassemblement pour une Alternative Progressiste (RAP) coalition. In 2016, the party was dissolved, with the members becoming part of the newly formed Tapura Huiraatira (TAPURA) party.

References

Political parties in French Polynesia {{Oceania-party-stub