Tāpura Huiraʻatira

Tapura Huiraatira () is a political party in French Polynesia. It was founded on 20 February 2016 by members of Tahoera'a Huiraatira (), a parliamentary coalition in the Assembly of French Polynesia, as well as other smaller parties such as Fetia Api.

It is chaired by Édouard Fritch, the President of French Polynesia. Its first congress was attended by 8,000 people, including 38 Polynesian mayors. Nicole Sanquer was the party's only Member of Parliament before she left to join A here ia Porinetia.

They wish to maintain political autonomy within the French Republic and continue to grow that relationship while strengthening ties with Oceania, given their geographical position.

The party won 49 percent of the vote and 38 seats in the 2018 French Polynesian legislative election. Fritch was re-elected as President of French Polynesia, while Gaston Tong Sang was elected President of the Assembly.

In March 2019 the party declared its support for La République En Marche! in the 2019 European Parliament election, resulting in criticism from its National Assembly and Senate members over a lack of consultation.

In September 2022 Teva Rohfritsch, Nicole Bouteau and Philip Schyle resigned from the party, citing disappointment with Edouard Fritch's government.

The party submitted its list for the 2023 French Polynesian legislative election on 17 March 2023. The party came second in the first round, with 30% of the vote. It subsequently formed a joint list with ʻĀmuitahiraʻa o te Nūnaʻa Māʻohi, the Union of Autonomists Against Independence.

Creation

In early 2015, 4 members of the Tahoera'a Huiraatira party were excluded from being associated with the party in the upcoming senatorial elections. These were the members of Lana Tetuanui, Nuihau Laurey, Michel Buillard, and Teapehu Teahe due to their rebelling from party rhetoric during their time in the assembly. In the 2015 elections, only Nuihau Laurey and Lana Tetuanui were re-elected, however, both were given political support by the at-the-time French-Polynesian President and leader of Tahoera'a Huiraatira, Édouard Fritch, as well as the A Tia Porinetia (ATP) coalition.

In late 2015, a group of members (initially 15, later 20) from Tahoera'a Huiraatira chose to dissent from the party due to conflicts between the former leader, Gaston Flosse, and President Édouard Fritch, as well as the exclusion of party members.

In 2016, an extremely short-lived working group was established to support the dissenting former party leader Édouard Fritch called the ' Rassemblement pour une Majorité Autonomiste' (), which included 20 (later 22) dissenting members of Tahoera'a Huiraatira, 8 members of the 'A Tia Porinetia' () coalition, and one former UPLD, Union pour la Démocratie (), coalition member.

On the 20th of February the official creation of the Tapura Huiraatira party is announced, with the former parties of To Tia Porinetia (ATP), O Porinetia To Tatou Aia, No Oe e Te Nunaa (NOETN), Fetia Api and Te Aveia being dissolved.

Election results

2018 Territorial Elections

2023 Territorial Elections

Notes

References

External links

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{{French Polynesian political parties

Political parties in French Polynesia
2016 establishments in French Polynesia
Political parties established in 2016