Temaru has no regrets

FRENCH POLYNESIA – An advisor of French Polynesia’s pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru says he has no regrets about the failed campaign to get him to stand in the French presidential election.

Temaru fell well short of the support needed among parliamentarians and mayors to be listed as a candidate in next month’s election. But his advisor, Moetai Brotherson, said that enormous pressure was applied to thwart Temaru, suggesting that mayors were warned of possible losses of subsidies.

The comments referred to the Tahoeraa Huiraatira of Gaston Flosse, who has firmed up ties with France’s National Front.

He also said he was saddened to see that some Tahitians were ordered to back Marine Le Pen although they would have wanted to endorse Temaru.

Brotherson had been dismissive of the Elysee Accord signed by President François Hollande and French Polynesia’s Edouard Fritch last week calling it basically a marketing exercise.