Gaston Flosse (born 24 June 1931) is a French Polynesian politician who has been

President of French Polynesia The president of French Polynesia (; ) is the head of government of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The office was first created in 1984. Moetai Brotherson has held the office since 2023. List of pre ...

on five separate occasions. He is currently a member of the

Senate of France The Senate (, ) is the upper house of the French Parliament, with the lower house being the National Assembly (France), National Assembly, the two houses constituting the legislature of France. It is made up of 348 senators (''sénateurs'' and ...

and has been a French junior minister under

Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac (, ; ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988, as well as Mayor of Pari ...

. He received sentences for corruption, which are under appeal.

Life and career

Flosse was born in Rikitea,

Mangareva Mangareva is the central and largest island of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. It is surrounded by smaller islands: Taravai in the southwest, Aukena and Akamaru in the southeast, and islands in the north. Mangareva has a permanent p ...

French Polynesia French Polynesia ( ; ; ) is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole #Governance, overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than in the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. The t ...

. He is of both French and Polynesian descent. Flosse supports the current autonomy arrangement between

and

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and has led the

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

pro-autonomy and anti-independence party Tahoera'a Huiraatira (People's Rally for the Republic Party) for more than 20 years. He was the vice-president of the government council from 1982 to 1984, when more autonomy was gained and he became President of the Governing Council. He held that position from 1984 to 1987 and from 1991 to 2004. On 27 February 2004 French Polynesian autonomy was again increased, and Flosse became President of French Polynesia (''Le président de la Polynésie française''). Shortly after, though, his party lost the

parliamentary elections A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. General elections ...

, and on June 15, he left office when the parliament, the

Assembly of French Polynesia The Assembly of French Polynesia (, ; Tahitian: ''Te apoʻoraʻa rahi o te fenua Māʻohi'') is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic. It is located at Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It wa ...

(''Assemblée de la Polynésie française''), elected the pro-independence leader, Oscar Temaru, to the post. On 22 October 2004 he was re-elected to the presidency, and he took office that day, although doubt was cast on the legitimacy of this election by

Antony Géros Antony Daniel Teva Géros (; born 22 July 1956) 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. Si ...

, the President of the French Polynesia Assembly (see French Polynesia political crisis 2004). On 13 February 2005 Flosse's party lost the parliamentary

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

s, which had been called as a compromise after pressure from Temaru's supporters. On 15 February 2005 Flosse lost the presidency again in a parliamentary confidence vote, and on 3 March 2005 Temaru took over. Apart from having been president of the territory, he has also been both tourism minister and housing minister. He is the mayor of Pirea municipality north of

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeʻetē'', pronounced ; old name: ''Vaiʻetē''Personal communication with Michael Koch in ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific ...

and has represented the territory in the

National Assembly of France The National Assembly (, ) is the lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral French Parliament under the French Fifth Republic, Fifth Republic, the upper house being the Senate (France), Senate (). The National Assembly's legislators are known ...

. He was first elected to the Senate of France on 1 October 1998. Flosse was able to govern French Polynesia with the support of centrist parties and groupings. He and former French President

had a close personal association, Chirac being a godfather to Flosse's youngest son. This relationship gave the Tahitian special access to the highest levels of power in France, which he utilised in negotiating aid packages and financial support for the territory. On 21 June 2006 Flosse was convicted of corruption and given a three-month suspended sentence. The court found that he had abused his political office in connection with a hotel purchase. He continued to be a member of the territorial assembly and French Senate. Flosse's party came third in the February 2008 legislative assembly elections, but with the support of Oscar Temaru and his UPLD (Union for Democracy) party, which came second, Flosse became President of French Polynesia again on 23 February 2008. He was replaced by Gaston Tong Sang after losing a vote of confidence on 15 April 2008, however. Flosse was re-elected to the French Senate in the September 2008 Senate election. In January 2022 Flosse declared his support for independence for French Polynesia, saying that autonomy within France had worked as long as

was French president and had since been eroded. In July 2024 he stepped down as president of the ʻĀmuitahiraʻa o te Nūnaʻa Māʻohi party.

Political career

Governmental function Secretary of State for South Pacific : 1986-1988. Electoral mandates ''European Parliament'' Member of European Parliament for France : 1984-1986 (Became ministre in 1986). ''National Assembly of France'' Member of the National Assembly of France for

(2nd constituency) : 1978-1982 (Resignation) March–April 1986 (Became minister in 1986) / 1993-1997. Elected in 1978, reelected in 1981, 1986, 1993. ''Senate of France'' Senator of

: 1998-2014. Elected in 1998, reelected in 2008. Deprived by the

Constitutional Council of France The Constitutional Council (, ) is the highest constitutional authority in France. It was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958 to ensure that constitutional principles and rules are upheld. It is housed in the ...

on 16 September 2014. ''Presidency of the French Polynesia'' President of the

: 2004-2005 / February–April 2008 / 2013-2014. Deprived by the Council of State on 5 September 2014. President of the government of

: 1984-1987 / 1991-2004. Reelected in 1991, 1996 and 2001. Vice-president of the government of

: 1982-1984. ''French Polynesia Territorial Assembly'' President of the

: 1972-1974 / 1976-1977.Le président - Assemblée de la Polynésie française
/ref> Member of the

: 1967-2014. Reelected in 1972, 1977, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2013. Deprived by the

Council of State A council of state is a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or it may refer to a non-executive advisory body associated with a head ...

on 5 September 2014. ''Municipal Council'' Mayor of Pirae : 1965-2000 (Resignation). Reelected in 1971, 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995. Municipal councillor of Pirae : 1965-2000 (Resignation). Reelected in 1971, 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flosse, Gaston 1931 births French senators of the Fifth Republic Living people People from the Gambier Islands Presidents of French Polynesia Tahoera'a Huiraatira politicians Senators of French Polynesia Speakers of the Assembly of French Polynesia Heads of government who were later imprisoned French politicians convicted of crimes French politicians convicted of corruption Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of French Polynesia

Life and career

Political career

See also

References