French Polynesia's president has dismissed criticism of leading a party with many elected members having criminal convictions.
Edouard Fritch in victory speech Photo: TV La 1ere
Edouard Fritch, whose Tapura Huiraatira party won an overwhelming majority for another five-year term, says each case has to be analysed as each is different.
The pro-independence opposition Tavini Huiraatira party had campaigned for probity in politics but the Tapura was returned to power with an increased majority, with almost a third of its assembly members having a criminal record.
In an interview with public TV, Mr Fritch said one of his own convictions was for paying money towards a radio station which was in favour of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira, to which he had belonged for decades.
In the last term, he was ordered to reimburse more than $US80,000 dollars of taxpayer funds.
Mr Fritch said in the near future he would be convicted for having given water to the residence of the former president Gaston Flosse.
Both men face charges of abusing public funds by billing the town of Pirae to supply water to Flosse.
Mr Fritch said he needed around people him who were good managers, adding that he could sanction people, be it with the means of the judiciary.
Flosse is banned from holding public office until 2019 because of two corruption convictions.
A Tavini member of the French National Assembly Moetai Brotherson presented a bill in Paris earlier this year with the aim of imposing a lifetime ban for any elected politician convicted of abusing public funds.
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