Transcript
WZ: Flosse keeps failing to convince the electoral commission that he is eligible to register as a voter in Papeete and hence stand as a candidate in the municipal elections next month. A first application was thrown out among others because he had not lived at the address he had given for the mandatory six months. He took the matter to court in Tahiti and lost. He then took the matter to France's highest court and also lost. Yet, he says that was just the first round because he filed a second application - this time six months after his move to Papeete. And still the electoral commission won't register him.
BRD: How can that be?
WZ: There is more to the rejection. The electoral commission doesn't believe that he in fact lives at the address given. Flosse says he and his partner Pascale Haiti live in a 15-square metre unit inside his party's headquarters in Papeete. The commission has checked power use and concluded that it's too low for a real household. Flosse in turn has invited the media to show his wardrobe and cooking facilities. After being rejected in Tahiti twice, the very last hope is that he can persuade the court in Paris that he does live in the Papeete studio. However, on the surface it does appears improbable that someone used to decades of luxury chooses to settle in a tiny section of an office complex.
BRD: Why is he so keen to run in Papeete?
WZ: According to Flosse, he is done with Pirae. The town, which is next to Papeete, was his long-time stronghold and the place where he had been mayor for 35 years until 2000. Now that he has fallen out with most senior Tahoeraa members, he is unlikely to be able to defeat the president Edouard Fritch who is the incumbent.
BRD: How is his move to Papeete being seen?
WZ: Michel Buillard, who has been mayor of Papeete for 25 years, has been vocal in declaring that Flosse can't run, saying he failed in his applications on all counts. There has been some bitterness between the two as Flosse got three Tahoeraa members from Papeete to challenge Mr Buillard's eligibility. They took the matter to court, saying they had testimonials from people in Pirae that Mr Buillard lived there. In short, the court heard that Mr Buillard has two homes but concluded this week that he does live in Papeete.
BRD: How has Mr Buillard taken this challenge?
WZ: As I said there appears to be quite some bitterness. Now moves are afoot to see if a possible Flosse candidacy can be thwarted on the basis of his lease being flawed. Mr Buillard is behind claims that Flosse's contract is a fake generated to become a resident. In a separate matter, the party's lease is also being tested in court with the owner seeking the expulsion of the Tahoeraa for allegedly not paying the rent.
BRD: If he can't run next month, will it be the end of Flosse's career?
WZ: French Polynesian politicians have in the past been declared politically dead but then bounced back to return to office. After Flosse's surprise loss in 2004, he was widely shunned yet returned to the presidency in 2013 only to be turfed out of office over corruption convictions. Now 88 years old, he would be in his 90s when the next election is held. However he has a court case hanging over him which could again render him ineligible.
BRD: Has this corruption case any impact on his electoral chances?
WZ: Voters traditionally don't seem to care if a politician is found to be corrupt. Many leading figures have been caught out abusing public funds and they show no remorse or regret, let alone offer a resignation. Convictions usually result in suspended sentences and/or fines. Being banned from office is feared more than punishment by voters. So it has come to pass that key politicians are returned to office.
