The Fetia Api or Nouvelle Étoile ( en, New Star) was a centre-right political party in French Polynesia from 1996 to 2016, advocating for the autonomy of French Polynesia. The party was led by Boris Léontieff, former mayor of Arue since 1989, and then subsequently led by

Philip Schyle Philip Schyle (born 15 September 1962 Nouméa, New Caledonia) is a French Polynesian politician and a member of the O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a political party. He is also president of the Fetia Api political party. Schyle was twice the President ...

after 2002. The party was once one of the oldest in French Polynesia, spanning over 20 years. Originally the party was first associated with the french Union for French Democracy (UDF) party, but in 2007 it was part of dissidents who split away from the UDF and created the New Centre (NC).

was elected the Foreign Minister for the NC, and Fetia Api helped with public financial contributions. In 2016, the party was dissolved, with the members becoming part of the newly formed Tapura Huiraatira (TAPURA) party.

History

1996 Election

Creation of the Fetia Api party by Boris Léontieff, mayor of Arue since 1989. Territorial elections of 1996 in French Polynesia: Boris Léontieff elected to French Polynesian Assembly, and party wins 1 seat.

2001 Elections

In the 2001 Territorial elections, 7 members were elected.

2002 Plane crash

On 24 May 2002 a light plane carrying party leader Boris Léontieff, officials of Lucien Kimitete and Arsen Tuairau, and substitute candidate Ferfine Besseyre, disappeared on a flight to

Makemo Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia. History Makemo is the home of legendary Polynesian hero Moeava. The first recorded European to arrive to Makemo Atoll was English pearl merchant Jo ...

in the

Tuamotus The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (french: Îles Tuamotu, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extendin ...

. The French colonial government refused to delay the elections.

2003 President

is elected as the President of the Fetia Api party.

2004 Election

At the 2004 election the party contested with its own list winning one seat on Windward Islands, electing

. The party was also part of the Tapura Amui No Te Faatereraa Manahune – Tuhaa Pae coalition during this election for the seats on the

Austral Islands The Austral Islands (french: Îles Australes, officially ''Archipel des Australes;'' ty, Tuha'a Pae) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic in the South Pacific. Geographically ...

, as well as part of the Tapura Amui no Raromatai coalition for the Leeward Islands. For the Leeward islands, the party's Patricia Jennings-Pahio was elected. Following the 2004 elections, the party held the balance of power, and sided with pro-independence leader

Oscar Temaru Oscar Manutahi Temaru (born November 1, 1944) is a French politician. He has been President of French Polynesia (''président de la Polynésie française''), an overseas collectivity of France, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from ...

. In the 10 member government, two Fetia Api members were elected. They were Marie-Laure Vanizette and Francis Stein. Antonio Perez dissidents to create the rival Te Avei'a party.

2005 Partial Election

Following the collapse of Temaru's government, the party united with

Nicole Bouteau Nicole Bouteau (born 1969) is a French Polynesian politician. She is a member of the Assembly of French Polynesia and a former Minister of Tourism. Education Bouteau has a masters degree from the University of French Polynesia. Political career ...

to contest the 2005 Partial French Polynesian Election as the Alliance for a New Democracy (ADN), with party president Philip Schyle re-elected in the constituency of the Windward Islands. The party did not join the subsequent Temaru government.

2006 and After

In 2006 the party's leader

elected President of the Assembly of French Polynesia with the surprise support of Tahoeraa by 29 votes against 28 for outgoing President Tony Geros (UPLD - Tavini). He was elected for a second term in 2009. In 2007 the party leader

was assigned as Foreign Minister for the french party New Centre (NC). In the 2008 election the party ran on a common list with

O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a ‘O Pōrīnetia To Tātou ‘Ai‘a ("Polynesia, a Homeland for us all") was a French Polynesian anti-independence political party founded by Gaston Tong Sang Gaston Tong Sang (born August 7, 1949 in Bora Bora) is a French politician and is t ...

and other small autonomist parties called "To Tātou ‘Ai‘a" (Homeland for us all). In 2012,

and so the Fetia Api party become members of the short lived Rassemblement pour une Alternative Progressiste (RAP) coalition. In 2016, the party was dissolved, with the members becoming part of the newly formed Tapura Huiraatira (TAPURA) party.

References

Political parties in French Polynesia {{Oceania-party-stub