French Polynesia's pro-independence opposition has continued to attack the French government and judiciary for removing its leader Oscar Temaru from the assembly.
After last week's French court ruling that he breached the election campaign rules, Mr Temaru was today absent from the assembly debate for the first time in 32 years.
French Polynesia's assembly approves 2018 budget Photo: French Polynesia presidency
The Tavini Huiraatira party's Antony Geros accused the judiciary of being manipulated by the government in Paris which he said acted to punish Mr Temaru for taking all living French presidents to the International Criminal Court.
The legal action alleges that by ordering nuclear weapons tests in the South Pacific, the presidents committed a crime against humanity.
Mr Geros also raised last week's decision of the French Court of Revision which quashed the 1959 conviction of the pro-independence leader Pouvanaa a Oopa who had been jailed for eight years.
Oscar Temaru Photo: RNZI/Monica Miller
Mr Geros said only an independent judiciary can help the families hit by the consequences of the nuclear tests.
Mr Temaru's seat has now gone to the Tavini's Cecile Mercier.
