Legislative elections were held in French Polynesia on 10 September 1967 for the Territorial Assembly.Strong vote for autonomy in French Polynesia Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1967, p25 The result was a victory for pro-autonomy parties E'a Api and Pupu Here Ai'a, which won 16 of the 30 seats.
Background The Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People, which had won the previous elections in 1962, was dissolved in November 1963.Chronologie 1959–1977 Assembly of French Polynesia
Electoral system The 30 members of the Territorial Assembly were elected from five constituencies; the Austral Islands (2 seats), the Leeward Islands (6), the Marquesas Islands (2), Tuamotu–Gambier Islands (4) and the Windward Islands (16).
Campaign The main campaign issue was the question of self-governance. At one of its final meetings, the previous Assembly had debated proposals by Jean-Baptiste Céran-Jérusalémy that the territory should be an autonomous territory in the French Community, that a new flag should be created for the territory and used alongside the French flag and that Tahitian should become a co-official language alongside French. Assembly members voted to delay the decision until after the upcoming elections.Tahiti hotting up for lively Assembly poll Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1967, p27
Following the Assembly debate, two new anti-autonomy parties were formed; the Democratic Polynesian Movement and Ia Ora O Polynesia. Other anti-autonomy parties included the Tahitian Union–Union for the New Republic alliance led by Rudy Bambridge and the Tahitian Democratic Union led by Alfred Poroi. Pro-autonomy parties included E'a Api led by Francis Sanford, Pupu Here Ai'a led by John Teariki and Te Oto I Te Nunaa led by Charles Poroi.
A total of 33 parties or party lists contested the elections, with 18 running in the Windward Islands. Pupu Here Ai'a was the only party to contest all five constituencies.
Results Twenty of the thirty winning candidates were new to the Assembly. The five candidates from minor parties were considered pro-autonomy.
Elected members ConstituencyMemberPartyNotesAustral IslandsPierre HunterPupu Here Ai'aTetuaura OputuAustral UnionLeeward IslandsRoger AmiotE'a ApiAdolphe BohlPupu Here Ai'aTetuanui EhuUT–UNRRe-electedMarcel HartTahitian Democratic UnionRe-electedWilliam TchengPupu Here Ai'aToro TeriirereTahitian Democratic UnionMarquesas IslandsGuy RauzyE'a ApiAndré TeikitutouaMarquesan Union–UNRTuamotu–Gambier IslandsCalixte JouetteUT–UNRRe-electedRiquet MarereUT–UNRRe-electedAndré PorlierUnion of Workers and FishermenFrançois TinomanoE'a ApiWindward IslandsAdolphe AgnieryE'a ApiYannick AmaruPupu Here Ai'aRudy BambridgeUT–UNRRe-electedFrançois BordesPupu Here Ai'aHenri BouvierPupu Here Ai'aGaston FlosseUT–UNREugène HaereraaroaE'a ApiAnthelme LogelE'a ApiDaniel MillaudE'a ApiJean MillaudE'a ApiAlfred PoroiTahitian Democratic UnionRe-electedNedo SalmonUT–UNRRe-electedFrancis SanfordE'a ApiCharles TaufaTahoeraa Ui No PolynesiaJohn TearikiPupu Here Ai'aRe-elected (previously RDPT)Frantz VanizetteIndependents of Economic and Social ActionRe-elected (previously UTD)Source: Assembly of French Polynesia, Pacific Islands Monthly, SauraBruno Saura (2003) Tinito: la communauté chinoise de Tahiti : installation, structuration, intégration, p317
Aftermath Following the elections, E'a Api and Pupu Here Ai'a agreed to work together to form a government.New moves on internal self-government in French Polynesia Pacific Islands Monthly, 1 December 1967, pp16–18 The new Assembly opened on 1 November and elected the five-member Council of Government; the Tahitian Democratic Union voted with the governing parties, electing Leon Assaud, Jean Roy Bambridge, Jean Juventin, Jacques Laurey and André Lonfevre were elected.
Following the death of Marcel Hart in January 1969, he was replaced by Sam Koua.People Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1969, p112 Rudy Bambridge left the Assembly in March 1969 and was replaced by Jacques Teuira. Ah Kong Sham Koua also entered the Assembly during its term.Les élus de l’assemblée territoriale Assembly of French Polynesia
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