6/14/04
Leader of UPLD (union for democracy) Oscar Temaru was elected, Monday, June 12, as President of French Polynesia. He was the only candidate and received 30 of the possible 57 assembly votes. The new President declared the" election was an historic event" consecrating the desire for change and alternation". President Temaru made a speech both in Tahitian and French and explained his government's priorities will deal with tax reform, decentralization, raising minimum wage and cutting down government spending.

Gaston Flosse's Tahoeraa huiraatira (autonomist opposition), winning 27 seats at the Assembly, had put nobody forward as a candidate. The party had won parliamentary majority continuously since 1991.

According to article 73 of the Autonomy statute, French Polynesia President must form his government and notify the representative of the State of it, within five days after his election.

6/18/04-
French Polynesia new Cabinet met Friday at 9.30 am, in the Administration former headquarters, on Bruat Avenue in Papeete."I am confident about this first meeting. We went over all the issues on the agenda with the Secretary General, and the government will take all the necessary decisions. I lay particular stress on the fact that these will be collegial decisions", said President of Polynesia, Oscar Temaru before he entered the Cabinet's room. Oscar Temaru did not disclose the contents of this first Cabinet but said it was "rather busy". "There are affairs in progress to deal with, and there are urgent questions to treat", he added.

Vice President, Jacqui Drollet, who will move into President Gaston Flosse's office, said "he was serene" about the Cabinets first meeting. "It's a good thing the place is going to revive. In the recent past, it was reserved for the exclusive and whimsical use of a single man. Today, we give it back to the people of (French) Polynesia", he observed.

Source: Tahitipresse