In what is France’s farthest-flung dependency, the results were also the first to trickle down from the senatorial elections.
In Wallis, the vote involved 21 participants: the members of the local legislative assembly and Wallis and Futuna’s member of the French National Assembly, Victor Brial.
Laufoaulu received 13 votes, including eight from his own party, UMP, and another five from what is locally described as “centrist” members of the local House.
His only opponent, Vetelino Nau, who was running for the local Union for Wallis and Futuna, oe UPWF, got eight, local television reports.
Friar Robert Laufoaulu’s candidacy was once again endorsed by the French ruling party Union for a Popular Movement. He will serve for another six years.
The senatorial elections take place on a progressive basis in France, with one third being renewed every three years.
This year, New Caledonia is not included in the renewal batch of Senate constituencies, but the other two French Pacific communities, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna, are.
On the other side of the time zone, results from French Polynesia will be the last to be known regarding the French senatorial elections. French Polynesian leaders were casting their vote as of press time.
