Oscar Temaru, a veteran Tahitian independence activist has accused France of using aid money to protect its marine interests in the Pacific.
Mr Temaru, leader of the pro-indepedence Tavini Huira'atira party and Mayor of Fa'a in French Polynesia says France has control over the excluvise economic zones of Wallis and Futuna, New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
He says also that lobbying for independence is difficult because of France using its purse to buy the support of people in the territories.
Mr Temaru says pro-independence parties cannot increase their share of the vote because one third of the people in French Polynesia are from France.
He says French people arriving in the territory are able to vote in local elections after six months
