Chantal Galenon | |
---|---|
Minister of Solidarity and Housing | |
Assumed office 15 May 2023 | |
President | Moetai Brotherson |
Preceded by | Virginie Bruant (Solidarity) Jean-Christophe Bouissou (Housing) |
Member of the French Polynesian Assembly for Windward Isles 1 | |
Assumed office 29 January 2008 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1956 (age 67–68) [1] Tahiti |
Political party | Union for Democracy Tavini Huiraatira |
Minarii Chantal Galenon-Taupua (born 1956) is a French Polynesian teacher,women's rights activist,politician,and Cabinet Minister. She has been an elected member of the French Polynesian Assembly since 2008 and is President of the French Polynesian Women's Council.
Galenon was born on Tahiti and grew up in Patutoa in Papeete. [2] A former primary school teacher,from 2001 to 2008 Galenon served on Papeete Municipal Council. [3] From 2008 she was an elected member of the French Polynesian Assembly representing the a Union for Democracy (UPLD) party. [3] She was previously a supporter of Tahoeraa Huiraatira,but resigned from the party in December 2009. [4] Her resignation meant she stood as an independent candidate,an action that meant that Gaston Tong Sang lost his majority. [5] In 2011 hers was the casting vote in the no confidence motion that ended the presidency of Tong Sang. [6]
In 2014 she joined the board of Pu o te Hau - the only women's shelter in the territory. [7] In 2018 she spoke out against the cover designed for the brochure of the Tifaifai International Festival,which featured a naked Polynesian woman. Galenon was quoted as saying:"Nous souhaitons que l’image de la femme polynésienne soit basée sur des valeurs…Non plus considérée comme un objet d’exposition ! Il faut arrêter ce cliché." ["We want the image of Polynesian women to be based on values…No longer considered as an object of exhibition!"] [8] She is President of the French Polynesian Women’s Council. [3] [9] She is also President of the Association Vahine Piri Rava. [10] The organisation works to protect and develop women's rights in the territory,especially in terms of health. [11]
In 2021 Galenon appealed to the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the people of French Polynesia whose health has been affected by nuclear testing undertaken by the French government between the 1960s and the 1990s. [12] The same year she voted in favour of a compulsory vaccination programme for certain occupations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [13]
She was re-elected to the Assembly in the 2023 election. On 15 May 2023 she was appointed Minister of Solidarity and Housing in the government of Moetai Brotherson. [14] [15]
French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the South Pacific Ocean. The total land area of French Polynesia is 3,521 square kilometres (1,359 sq mi),with a population of 278,786 of which at least 205,000 live in the Society Islands and the remaining population lives in the rest of the archipelago.
Papeete is the capital city of French Polynesia,an overseas collectivity of the French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti,in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands,of which Papeete is the administrative capital. Both the President of French Polynesia and French High Commissioner reside in Papeete.
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French politician. He has been President of French Polynesia,an overseas collectivity of France,on five occasions:in 2004,from 2005 to 2006,from 2007 to 2008,in 2009,and from 2011 to 2013 and mayor of Faa'a since 1983.
Gaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on five separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France and has been a French junior minister under Jacques Chirac. He received sentences for corruption,which are under appeal.
Tāvini Huiraʻatira,also known as Tāvini huiraʻatira nōte ao māʻohi –FLP,is a pro-independence political party in French Polynesia. Founded in 1977 as the Front de libération de la Polynésie (FLP),the party has been led since its inception by Oscar Temaru. From 2004 to 2013 it was part of the Union for Democracy (UPLD) coalition.
The Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia,an overseas country of the French Republic. It is located at Place Tarahoi in Pape'ete,Tahiti. It was established in its current form in 1996 although a Tahitian Assembly was first created in 1824. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote for five years;the electoral system is based upon proportional representation in six multi-seat constituencies. Every constituency is represented by at least three representatives. Since 2001,the parity bill binds that the number of women matches the number of men elected to the Assembly.
Winfred Édouard Tereori Fritch is a French Polynesian politician who served as President of French Polynesia from 2014 to 2023. He previously presided over the Assembly of French Polynesia on three occasions:from April 2007 to February 2008,from February 2009 to April 2009 and from May 2013 to September 2014. Until 2015,Fritch was co-president of Tahoera'a Huiraatira,a pro-French political party,before he became president of the newly established Tapura Huiraatira.
Michel Buillard is a French Polynesian politician and former Cabinet Minister. Since 1995 he has served as the mayor of Papeete. He was deputy of the National Assembly of France for French Polynesia's 1st constituency from 1997 to 2012. In the National Assembly,he was a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. In the Assembly of French Polynesia,he is a member of Tapura Huiraatira.
Tapura Huiraatira is a political party in French Polynesia. It was founded on 20 February 2016 by members of Tahoera'a Huiraatira,a parliamentary coalition in the Assembly of French Polynesia,as well as other smaller parties such as Fetia Api.
Moetai Charles Brotherson is a French Polynesian politician who has served as President of French Polynesia since 12 May 2023.
Maina Sage is a French Polynesian politician and former Cabinet Minister. She was a member of the Assembly of French Polynesia from 2008 to 2017,and a member of the National Assembly for the 1st constituency of French Polynesia from 2014 to 2022. She is a member of Tapura Huiraatira.
Nathalie Heirani Salmon-Hudry is a French Polynesian disability advocate,writer and politician. Her book Je suis née Morte was awarded the Vi Nimöliterary prize in New Caledonia in 2015.
Nicole Bouteau is a French Polynesian politician. She is a member of the Assembly of French Polynesia and a former Minister of Tourism. She is the daughter of artist Fauura Bouteau.
The Council of Ministers is the executive branch of the government of French Polynesia. It is headed and appointed by the President of French Polynesia.
Legislative elections were held in French Polynesia on 16 and 30 April 2023 to elect 57 representatives of the Assembly. The last election was in 2018.
Eliane Tevahitua is a French Polynesian politician and Cabinet Minister who is currently vice-president of French Polynesia. She is a member of Tavini Huiraatira.
Valentina Hina Cross is a French Polynesian politician and Member of the Assembly of French Polynesia. From 2008 to 2014 she served as mayor of Teva I Uta. She is a member of Tavini Huiraatira. She is the daughter of former Assembly president Milou Ebb.
Jules Ienfa is a French Polynesian medical doctor,politician,and former Cabinet Minister,who served as vice-president and Minister of Health in the government of Gaston Tong Sang.
Tevaiti-Ariipaea Pomare is a French Polynesian actuary,civil servant,politician,and Cabinet Minister.
Jordy Chan is a French Polynesian politician and Cabinet Minister who serves in the government of Moetai Brotherson.