PAPEETE (Tahitipresse) — Michel Buillard and Beatrice Vernaudon, from Gaston Flosse’s Tahoeraa Huiraatira party, have been elected to represent French Polynesia at the French National Assembly.
Buillard, who was already a member of the French National Assembly from 1997 to 2002, obtained 62 percent of the votes in the first constituency—west coast of Tahiti, Austral and Leeward islands. Vernaudon obtained 56.4 percent of the votes in the second constituency—east coast of Tahiti, Tuamotu and Marquesas islands.
They are the first representatives elected to the French National Assembly as the poll in French Polynesia was organized one week before France and the other overseas territories. Tahiti elects two of France’s 577 MPs. Buillard and Vernaudon will join the group supporting President Jacques Chirac at the French National Assembly.
The poll took place although the pro-autonomy Fetia Api candidate in the second constituency, Arsen Tuairau, and his back-up, Ferfine Besseyre, are still missing. They both disappeared in the Tuamotu archipelago on May 23 while touring the islands on a light aircraft. (See story next page)
The minister for overseas territories in Paris said the poll was to take place anyway. Despite the sadness related to the disappearance of the Fetia Api members, Arsen Tuairau only obtained 25 percent of the votes in the second constituency.
