There is continued tension within French Polynesia's ruling Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party, with the head of its assembly group, Teura Iriti, being formally asked by 14 colleagues to present a detailed account of the allocations received since the election.
Teura Iriti of French Polynesia's Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party Photo: AFP
The 14 are seen as supporters of the president, Edouard Fritch, who is at loggerheads with the party president, Gaston Flosse, over who should be the party's candidates for the senate.
Mrs Iriti says she is surprised that they now want an account for the more than US$5-million received so far.
She is a candidate for one of the French Senate seats and has the support of the party and of Flosse while one of the 14 signatories is Lana Tetuanui who wants a Senate seat with the support of Mr Fritch.
Media reports say if Mrs Iriti fails to produce the accounts, the matter could be forwarded to the judiciary.
This comes ahead of a planned party meeting which is widely expected to expel Mrs Tetuanui and another senatorial candidate, vice-president, Nuihau Laurey.
Flosse lost the presidency last year over a corruption conviction but has remained party leader.
