The defections from French Polynesia's opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party have continued, with Teva Rohfritsch quitting the Gaston Flosse-led movement.
Mr Rohfritsch, who continued as government minister despite the Tahoeraa going into opposition last week, has left the party two days after he was suspended for his stance.
One of the territory's members of the French assembly, Bruno Sandras, has also left the Tahoeraa this week, announcing now that he will be forming a new party.
His departure came as another former minister, Jacques Raynal, left the Tahoeraa, accusing it of excluding people, being without a vision and without a programme.
Meanwhile, the junior French minister in charge of overseas territories, Yves Jego, has welcomed last weekend's formation of the new government in Tahiti which now includes the anti-independence side led by Gaston Tong Sang.
The reaction marks a departure from last year when Mr Jego accused Mr Flosse of leaving the Republican family for siding with Oscar Temaru's pro-independence party.
