Transcript
WZ: Basically, the commune, or city, of Papeete has refused his registration which Flosse staged as a media event. He was told that his application was bogus because he didn't reside at the address he had given. The long-term mayor, Michel Buillard, who is a former political ally, said that Flosse failed on all accounts to stand.
DW: What was Flosse's reaction?
WZ: He appealed to the electoral commission, claiming that there was a mistake in the rejection but the appeal failed. That meant that Flosse decided to take the matter to court. There the commission argued that his residency at his party's premises was bogus. It claimed that the space he rented there could not be considered to be his home because for example the electricity bill was too low for a household. But Flosse is not giving up.
DW: What can he do?
WZ: Firstly, he invited the media to his abode to show that there were shirts in his wardrobe and that there was a hot plate and a microwave in the kitchen. And secondly, he is taking the refusal to France's highest court, quipping that maybe in Paris they have a better understanding of the electoral code.
DW: Why is he so keen to run in Papeete?
WZ: According to Flosse, he is done with Pirae. The town, which is next to Papeete, was his and his anti-independence party's fiefdom and stronghold. He had been mayor there for 35 years until 2000 when he was at the height of his power as both French Polynesia's president and a member of the French Senate. Since his fall from grace six years ago when he was stripped of his civic rights he has fallen out with most of his close associates. These include his erstwhile son-in-law and long-time deputy Edouard Fritch who is now the mayor of Pirae. It seems a tall order to dislodge Edouard Fritch.
DW: Would it be easier in Papeete?
WZ: It appears that Flosse thinks so. In general, party politics at the local level are different. Flosse claimed alliances with the pro-independence party of Oscar Temaru but he has downplayed that. In short there are other dynamics at play and they also affect Mr Fritch's party.
DW: Now Flosse was convicted for abusing public funds in Pirae. Is this of any consequence?
WZ: Politically, voters don't seem to care. Many mayors run for re-election despite having convictions for abusing public funds and they are likely to succeed. They include the mayors of Bora Bora and also Edouard Fritch. When he and Flosse were convicted for misspending Pirae's money to benefit Flosse by paying for private water charges for many years, Flosse risked being banned from office for two years. However, the case is being appealed and as long as there is no final verdict, he can run for office. That of course is now dependent on him being able to register as a voter first.
