Edouard Fritch

French Polynesia

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of French Polynesia

High Commissioner Adolphe Colrat President Oscar Temaru Assembly Assembly President Jacqui Drollet Political parties Elections Presidential: 2009 (Feb), 2009 (Nov) Parliamentary: 2004, 2008 Administrative divisions

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Edouard Fritch (born January 4, 1952 in Papeete, Tahiti) is French Polynesian politician. He has served as the current Speaker of the Assembly of French Polynesia since April 12, 2007. Fritch is co-President of Tahoeraa Huiraatira, a pro-French political party.

2008 Legislative Election

Main article: French Polynesian legislative election, 2008

The French Polynesian legislative election, 2008 took place on January 27, 2008, and February 10, 2008. The pro-French political of former President Gaston Tong Sang, O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a, secured 27 of the 57 seats in the new French Polynesian Assembly. Fritch's Tahoeraa Huiraatira party won 10 seats.

Negotiations between Fritch and Tong Sang reportedly broke down earlier in the week of February 17. Tong Sang said that he was prepared to offer Fritch's Tahoeraa Huiraatira party the Speaker of the Assembly, as well as 4 of the 15 ministerial posts, should he form a new government. Fritch refused Tong Sang's offer, saying that he wanted no less than five than five ministerial positions.

However, the two sides finally reached an eleventh-hour deal between Tong Sang's O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a party and the Tahoeraa Huiraatira to form a new pro-French coalition in the Assemby. On Thursday, February 21, 2008, Tong Sang announced that he had offered Fritch's Tahoeraa Huiraatira five ministerial positions, which Fritch had wanted, plus the Speakership of the Assembly and the chairmanships of three parliamentary committees.

Edouard Fritch was re-elected as the Speaker of the Assembly inaugural sitting of the new 2008 legislative assembly following the political deal. Fritch was re-elected with a total of 36 votes while pro-independence candidate Antony Géros came in second with 21 votes. His re-election was broadcast live on French Polynesian television and radio.

He served as Speaker for only two months under Gaston Flosse in 2008 until Gaston Tong Sang was elected president in April 2008.

2009 Presidential election

Main article: French Polynesian presidential election, 2009

Fritch stood as a candidate for President of French Polynesia for the Tahoera'a Huiraatira party in the 2009 French Polynesian presidential election. However, he failed to garner enough votes, coming in third place to Oscar Temaru.

Fritch was once again elected as the Speaker (President) of the Assembly of French Polynesia on February 12, 2009. His election as Speaker was part of the coalition agreement which allowed Oscar Temaru to be elected president the day before. Fritch was elected with the support of 38 of the 57 members of the Assembly.

On April 9, 2009, a second election was held for Speaker (President) of Parliament, following a reshuffling of the government. Former President Gaston Tong Sang had moved to join the ruling coalition of President Oscar Temaru. Fritch initially resisted calls for a new speaker election, saying that his position was necessary for the current April 9th Assembly session. However, a new election was held following legal advice from the French Council of State in Paris.

Fritch was defeated by Philip Schyle in the Speakers election on Thursday morning, April 9, 2009. Schyle, a member of the O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a, received 40 votes, while Fritch garnered obtained just 14 votes. One Assembly member did not vote and there were two blank ballots. Schyle immediately became the new Speaker.

In a speech following his ouster as Speaker, Fritch expressed "disappointment" that the UPLD-Tahoeraa political alliance was in trouble. He called the timing of the election unfortunate "in a time of economic crisis." He also accused the new alliance between President Temaru and former President Gaston Tong Sang as being inspired by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.