Tahiti's opposition confident campaign account will be accepted

10:04 am on 1 September 2018

French Polynesia's pro-independence opposition Tavini Huiraatira party is confident that its leader's disputed campaign account will be accepted.

This comes after the French national commission vetting campaign contributions and expenses rejected the return of Oscar Temaru and referred his case to the top administrative court.

French Polynesia leader Oscar Temaru.

The Tavini Huiraatira's Oscar Temaru Photo: RNZI

The commission deemed that an entry of $US36,000 by Mr Temaru was not explained properly.

This means he risks being declared ineligible to hold his assembly seat.

Tavini politicians expressed surprise at the Paris findings, saying it appeared that clarifications sent to Paris were not received on time.

They say this could due to the 12-hour time difference between Paris and Papeete.

The Tavini campaigned in the May territorial election on the issue of probity as the ruling Tapura Huiraatira fielded many candidates with corruption convictions, including the president Edouard Fritch and the assembly president Gaston Tong Sang.

Mr Temaru has represented his Tavini Huiraatira party in the assembly for decades.