Tahiti's Flosse likely to remain ineligible

12:17 pm on 22 March 2018

Reports from Paris say the highest court in France is set to reject an appeal by French Polynesia's former president Gaston Flosse to be allowed to stand in next month's election.

Gaston Flosse

Gaston Flosse Photo: AFP

Flosse has been serving two suspended jail sentences for corruption and been declared ineligible to hold public office twice.

Courts in Tahiti ruled that the sentences have to be served consecutively, meaning he is barred from office until 2019.

Flosse, however, argues that the two sentences can be served at the same time which allows him to run for office now.

Reports said the court''s expert opinion is for his appeal to be rejected.

The official ruling is expected to be released on Thursday afternoon Paris time.

Flosse's Tahoeraa Huiraatira party had won two thirds of the assembly seats in the last election in 2013 but the party has since split and lost most members.

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