Complaint laid against French Polynesia's Flosse - reports

11:20 am on 10 February 2020

Reports from French Polynesia say a complaint has been laid against veteran politician Gaston Flosse over his latest attempt to register as a voter in Papeete.

Veteran French Polynesian politician, Gaston Flosse.

Veteran French Polynesian politician, Gaston Flosse. Photo: RNZ Pacific

Flosse lodged a fresh registration bid last week while an earlier rejection of his voter application is being challenged in France's highest court.

Tahiti Nui TV said the mayoralty of Papeete alleged the rental agreement he presented to prove his residency in the city was fake because it was not approved by an authorised individual.

Flosse, 88, wants to make a comeback in next month's municipal elections.

He told local media lived in a small apartment within his Tahoeraa Huiraatira party's Papeete offices for six months.

The electoral commission had doubted his permanent residence was a 15 square metre unit and threw out his registration.

For 35 years, until 2000, Flosse was mayor of Pirae which is now run by his erstwhile deputy and now president of French Polynesia Edouard Fritch.

He had been banned from public office for five years because of two corruption convictions, but he plans to make his political comeback this year.

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