Gaston Tong Sang

Last updated

Gaston Tong Sang
Gaston Tong Sang Concours Peche 29.10.2018a IMG 7618.jpg
President of French Polynesia
In office
25 November 2009 –1 April 2011

Gaston Tong Sang [1] (born 7 August 1949 in Bora Bora) is a French Polynesian politician and is the former President of French Polynesia. [2] He served terms as President of French Polynesia from November 2009 until April 2011, from April 2008 until February 2009 and from December 2006 until September 2007; he is currently (since 1989) the Mayor of Bora-Bora. He is of Chinese descent, [3] [4] and is a founding member of French Polynesia's pro-French Tahoera'a Huiraatira political party. [5]

Contents

Personal life

Tong Sang was born in Bora Bora. His mother was Aren Siou Moun, 81, known as Mama Are, who died on 21 July 2007.

President of French Polynesia

Tong Sang was the Tahoera'a Huiraatira party's presidential candidate in the election of March 2005, but was defeated by Oscar Temaru by 29 votes to 26. On 26 December 2006, Tong Sang was elected President of French Polynesia by 31 votes to 26.

On 18 January 2007 Tong Sang's new government survived a motion of no confidence brought by the party of former French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru. Only 26 MPs showed up for the vote, which needed three additional MPs in order to pass. [6]

2007 Political Crisis

Gaston Tong Sang was heavily criticized by former French Polynesian President Gaston Flosse in July 2007. Flosse, a powerful pro-France politician and founder of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party, of which Tong Sang is a member, accused Tong Sang of caving in too easily to the demands of some of French Polynesia's minor coalition parties and ignoring the needs of Tahoeraa Huiraatira. [7]

Critics of Flosse charged that the allegations against Tong Sang were a move by Flosse to regain the presidency. Flosse's critics bolstered their charges against Flosse when it was revealed that Flosse had held "secret talks" with Oscar Temaru, a leading pro-independence politician who has been Flosse's long time political opponent in the past. [7] According to reports, the talks were aimed at ousting Tong Sang from office and setting up a unity platform between Flosse and Temaru's respective political parties. [7]

A no confidence motion was introduced by Temaru's Union for Democracy (UPLD) party on Wednesday, 29 August 2007. [7] The UPLD said that the no confidence motion against Tong Sang was based on the fact that he had only small support in Parliament and that he had lost his legitimacy to govern. Tong Sang's own Tahoeraa Huiraatira party asked President Tong Sang to resign ahead of the vote of no confidence against him. [7] Tong Sang refused the calls from his party to step down.

Gaston Tong Sang was removed from office and his government fell after a vote of no confidence on 31 August 2007. The motion of no confidence was passed by French Polynesia's 57 member Parliament. The motion against Tong Sang was passed by a majority 35 members of Parliament, including some members of Tong Sang's own Tahoera'a Huiraatira party. [5] Tong Sang had tried to save his government by offering Tahoer'a Huiraatira 7 ministerial posts. The party refused. [5]

The motion against Tong Sang was the first time that Oscar Temaru's Unity for Democracy Party and Gaston Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira party had formed a de facto alliance to oust a sitting French Polynesian government. [5]

Tong Sang continued on as part of a caretaker government position until new elections were held on 10 September 2007. [5]

The Tong Sang government was the third French Polynesian government to fall to motions of no confidence in the preceding three years, [5] prompting calls for reform.

On 14 September 2007, Temaru was elected as President of French Polynesia for the third time in three years, replacing Tong Sang. [8]

Tong Sang subsequently founded a new party, O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a, on 1 October 2007. [9]

On 15 April 2008 Tong Sang again became President following a no confidence motion against the government of Gaston Flosse. [10] He resigned again on 8 February 2009, [11] and Oscar Temaru became president again after beating Tong Sang in the presidential election on 12 February 2009.

Return to the Presidency (2009-2011)

He became president again on 25 November 2009 after Temaru fell in a vote of no confidence. [12] He fell to a vote of no confidence himself on 1 April 2011. [13]

President of the Assembly (since 2018)

He was elected as the President of the Assembly of French Polynesia on 17 May 2018. [14]

He was re-elected to the Assembly in the 2023 election, [15] but lost the presidency of the Assembly as Tapura lost its majority. He was replaced by Antony Géros. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Temaru</span> Former President of French Polynesia

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaston Flosse</span> Former President of French Polynesia

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 French Polynesian legislative election</span>

Legislative elections were held in French Polynesia on 23 May 2004 to elect members of the Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in French Polynesia</span>

French Polynesia elects the Assembly of French Polynesia, the unicameral legislature at the territorial level. The Assembly has 57 members, elected for five-year terms by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies. French Polynesia has a two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties, making it difficult to be elected under the banner of another party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tāvini Huiraʻatira</span> Political party in French Polynesia

Tāvini Huiraʻatira, also known as Tāvini huiraʻatira nō te 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ʻĀmuitahiraʻa o te Nūnaʻa Māʻohi</span> Political party in French Polynesia

Amuitahiraʻa o te Nunaʻa Maohi, known as Tāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira until January 2022, is a political party in French Polynesia. The party is conservative, pro-independence and pro-association. It was founded in 1977 by Gaston Flosse, who initially supported French Polynesia's autonomy arrangement with France before his current support for independent association with France, and who has led the party for over 20 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 French Polynesian legislative election</span>

Early legislative elections were held in French Polynesia in early 2008. The first round was held on 27 January, with the second round on 10 February. The early elections was the first one to be conducted under a reformed electoral system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Édouard Fritch</span> Former President of French Polynesia (2014–2023)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michel Buillard</span> French politician

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">February 2009 French Polynesian presidential election</span> Presidential election in French Polynesia

An indirect presidential election was held in French Polynesia on 11 February 2009, after defections from the ruling pro-autonomy faction and a scheduled constructive vote of no confidence planned for 12 February 2009 caused the incumbent Gaston Tong Sang to step down on 7 February 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">November 2009 French Polynesian presidential election</span>

An indirect presidential election was held in French Polynesia on Tuesday 24 November 2009, after the opposition, led by Gaston Tong Sang, won a vote of no confidence against the government of incumbent French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tāpura Huiraʻatira</span> Political party in French Polynesia

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.

Teura Iriti is a French Polynesian politician, member of the Assembly of French Polynesia, and former member of the Senate of France. Since June 2020 she has served as Mayor of Arue. Originally a member of Tahoera'a Huiraatira party, she is now a member of Tāpura Huiraʻatira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teva Rohfritsch</span> French Polynesian politician

Teva Rohfritsch is a French Polynesian politician and former Cabinet Minister. Since 2020 he has been one of French Polynesia's two senators in the French Senate, sitting with the Rally of Democrats, Progressives and Independents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antony Géros</span> French Polynesian politician

Antony Daniel Teva Géros is a French Polynesian politician and current President of the Assembly of French Polynesia. He has previously served as a Cabinet Minister, and three times as vice-president of French Polynesia. Since 2020 he has served as Mayor of Paea. He is a member of pro-independence party Tavini Huiraatira.

Jean-Marius Raapoto is a French Polynesian educator, academic, politician, and former Cabinet Minister. He has been a major advocate for the Tahitian language, and served as Minister of Education in various governments between 2004 and 2009.

Jacques Raynal is a French Polynesian politician and former Cabinet Minister who has served in the governments of Gaston Flosse and Édouard Fritch. He is a member of Tapura Huiraatira.

Thomas Moutame is a French Polynesian politician and former Cabinet Minister. He has served as Mayor of Taputapuatea since 1997. He is a member of Tapura Huiraatira.

Pierre Frébault is a French Polynesian civil servant, politician, and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of Tavini Huiraatira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porinetia Ora</span> Political party in French Polynesia

Porinetia Ora was an autonomist political party in French Polynesia. The party was created on 1 December 2004 by former Tahoera'a Huiraatira Minister Reynald Temarii. He was replaced as party president in 2006 by Teiva Manutahi.

References

  1. ↑ "Tong Sang" is the family name, "Gaston" is the given name.
  2. ↑ "Civil society to be included in new French Polynesia government". RNZ. Wellington, New Zealand. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Gaston Tong Sang, le président zen de la Polynésie" (in French). Le Monde. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Temaru To Seek Re-election In Tahiti Stalemate Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FRENCH POLYNESIA PRESIDENT OUSTED AFTER 8 MONTHS". Pacific Islands Report. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Motion of no confidence in new French Polynesia government fails". RNZ. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tong Sang Asked To Resign By Own Party". Pacific Magazine . 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
  8. ↑ BBC NEWS, French Polynesia gets new leader
  9. ↑ "Ousted French Polynesia president forms new party". RNZ. 30 September 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "French president welcomes French Polynesia's change of leadership". Radio New Zealand. 17 April 2008.
  11. ↑ "French Polynesia's government falls four days ahead of no confidence vote". RNZ. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  12. ↑ "French Polynesian assembly votes out Temaru government". Xinhua. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012.
  13. ↑ "French Polynesia's Tong Sang ousted by Temaru". RNZ. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  14. ↑ Le président - Assemblée de la Polynésie française
  15. ↑ "La nouvelle composition de l'assemblée" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Tony Géros élu président de l'assemblée de la Polynésie française" (in French). Radio1. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by President of French Polynesia
2006 – 2007		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of French Polynesia
2008 – 2009		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of French Polynesia
2009 – 2011		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.