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A referendum on the new constitution of France was held in French Polynesia on 28 September 1958 as part of a wider referendum held across the French Union. The new constitution would see the country become part of the new French Community if accepted, or result in independence if rejected. It was approved by 64.40% of voters. [1]
Some members of the Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (RDPT), which had been removed from power by Governor Camille Bailly in April 1958, backed a 'no' vote. Government officials restricted campaigning by opponents of the new constitution, and in some outlying islands, voters were unaware that 'no' was an option. [2]
The result saw 64% of voters vote in favour of the constitution. However, Pacific Islands Monthly noted that it was thought by some that 'no' would have won had the RDPT been allowed to campaign properly. [2]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 16,196 | 64.40 | |
| Against | 8,952 | 35.60 | |
| Total | 25,148 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 25,148 | 99.61 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 99 | 0.39 | |
| Total votes | 25,247 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 30,950 | 81.57 | |
| Source: Direct Democracy | |||
Following the referendum, there was civil unrest in the island of Tahiti, with RDPT supporters starting fires with molotov cocktails on 10–11 October. [2] As a result of the violence, RDPT leader Pouvanaa a Oopa and 22 supporters were arrested. [2] Oopa was subsequently convicted of arson and exiled to France. The conviction was quashed by the Court of Revision in 2018 after new evidence showed that French police had fabricated evidence or extracted it by threats of violence, and that the Governor had reported Pouvanaa's arrest before the fires had even been set. [3] [4]
The Australian republic referendum held on 6 November 1999 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia. The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic, with a president appointed by Parliament following a bi-partisan appointment model which had been approved by a half-elected, half-appointed Constitutional Convention held in Canberra in February 1998. The second question, generally deemed to be far less important politically, asked whether Australia should alter the Constitution to insert a preamble. Since the early 1990s opinion polls had suggested that a majority of the electorate favoured a republic in principle. Nonetheless, the republic referendum was defeated.
Here Ai’a, also known as Te Pupu Here Ai'a Te Nunaa ia Ora, is a pro-independence political party in French Polynesia. It was founded by John Teariki and Henri Bouvier in 1965 following the banning of the pro-independence Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (RDPT) by the colonial French government. Supported mainly by rural Polynesians, the party was a significant force in French Polynesian politics from its foundation until the early 1980's, before entering a decline following Teariki's death in 1983. The party is currently led by Gustave Taputu.
The Tahitians are the indigenous Polynesian people of Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands in French Polynesia. The numbers may also include the modern population in these islands of mixed Polynesian and French ancestry. Indigenous Tahitians are one of the largest Polynesian ethnic groups, behind the Māori, Samoans and Hawaiians.
Pouvana'a a O'opa was a Tahitian politician and advocate for French Polynesian independence. He is viewed as the metua (father) of French Polynesia's independence movement.
The Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People was a political party in French Oceania/French Polynesia. The party was led by Pouvanaa a Oopa.
On August 3, 1949 the incumbent member of the French National Assembly from French Oceania, Georges Ahnne died. A by-election was held on October 22, 1949, to fill the vacant seat. The election was won by Pouvanaa a Oopa, who got 62% of the votes cast.
Marcel Pouvanaa Oopa was a Tahitian politician, the son of the Tahitian leader Pouvanaa a Oopa. He belonged to the political party Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (RDPT), led by his father. Marcel Oopa was a carpenter by profession.
Early general elections were held in the Cook Islands on 3 December 1974. The result was a victory for the ruling Cook Islands Party (CIP), which won 14 of the 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly with 64% of the vote. The Democratic Party won the remaining eight seats. CIP leader Albert Henry remained Premier.
A referendum on the new constitution of France was held in New Caledonia on 28 September 1958 as part of a wider referendum held across the French Union. If accepted, the new constitution would see the country become part of the new French Community. If rejected, the referendum would result in independence. It was approved by 98.12% of voters.
Legislative elections were held in French Oceania on 18 January 1953, the first to the new Territorial Assembly, which replaced the Representative Assembly.
Legislative elections were held in French Polynesia on 3 November 1957 for the Territorial Assembly. The result was a victory for the ruling Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (RDPT) led by Pouvanaa a Oopa, which won 17 of the 30 seats.
John French "Tony" Teariki was a French Polynesian politician. He served as a member of the French National Assembly from 1961 to 1967, and as a member of the Territorial Assembly from 1957 until 1983.
Céline Oopa was a French Polynesian politician. She was elected to the Territorial Assembly in 1961, becoming its first female member.
Charles Henri Vernier was a French Polynesian religious leader, academic, and politician. He led the Maohi Protestant Church for 40 years from 1911 to 1951, and was the first elected representative of French Polynesia to the French legislature.
Rudolf Tanahe Bambridge was a French Polynesian lawyer and politician, who led the anti-independence Tahitian Union during the 1950s and 1960s. He was the son of politician Tony Bambridge.
Frantz Vanizette was a French Polynesian politician who served five times as president of the Assembly of French Polynesia.
Jacques Tauraa was a French Polynesian politician and Cabinet Minister who was the longest-serving president of the Assembly of French Polynesia. He was a member of the Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (RDPT).
Jean-Baptiste Heitarauri Céran-Jérusalémy was a French Polynesian politician who served twice as president of the Assembly of French Polynesia. He was a founder of the Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People.
Walter Jean Tepuatauonini Grand was a French Polynesian soldier and politician who served as president of the Assembly of French Polynesia from 1955 to 1958. He was the first Tahitian decorated for bravery in the Second World War.
Noël Ilari was a French soldier who fought in both world wars. He served as president of the Assembly of French Polynesia from 1953 to 1955.
