Alexandre Léontieff
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Léontieff was the President of French Polynesia
from 1987 to 1991.
, Tahiti
, near the world famous surfing location. He obtained a degree in economics
from the University of Rennes
in 1970.
Léontieff was of Russian ancestry and the brother of French Polynesian politician Boris Léontieff, a one time cabinet
minister in the government of Gaston Flosse and former mayor of Arue, French Polynesia
. Boris Léontieff later became the leader of his own political party, Fetia Api
. He is believed to have been killed in a small plane crash in May 2002 while on a political campaign trip in the Tuamotu Archipelago. The plane's wreckage and passengers have never been found. Boris Léontieff was 47 years old at the time of his death.
in the Tahoera'a Huiraatira
political party during the 1980s. Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira endorsed Léontieff's election as one of French Polynesia's two deputies in the National Assembly of France in 1986. Léontieff held the seat in the National Assembly until 1993, despite a later rift with Flosse and the Tahoera'a Huiraatira.
Flosse became French Polynesia's first president from 1984 until 1987. In February 1987, Flosse resigned from the presidency in order to become the first, and only, French state secretary in charge of Pacific affairs. However, Léontieff was passed over as Flosse's handpicked successor in favor of Jacques Teuira
, who became French Polynesia's second president.
Léontieff responded by forming a majority coalition in the Assembly of French Polynesia
with others politicians opposed to Flosse and Teuira. Léontieff's coalition filed a censure
motion against Teuira, which was adopted by the Assembly. The moved forced Flosse's handpicked successor, Jacques Teuira, to resign as President of French Polynesia in December 1987.
Léontieff became President on December 9, 1987. He served as president from 1987 until 1991. Léontieff quit Gaston Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira
political party, and founded his own party, Te Tiarama
, on January 23, 1988.
Gatson Flosse left his post in the French government in 1988 and returned to French Polynesia. Flosse became the main opposition leader in the Assembly during Léontieff's four year presidency.
Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira political party defeated Léontieff's governing coalition in the 1991 legislative elections on March 17, 1991. Léontieff left office on April 4, 1991, and was succeeded by Flosse.
, a pro-independence political party.
A Paris Criminal Court convicted Léontieff of corruption
in three separate cases in 1997. He sentenced to two years in prison in 1999, following a series of appeals.
Gaston Flosse and Alexandre Léontieff reconciled their past personal and political differences in 2001, amazing political observers and French Polynesian analysts. Flosse rewarded Léontieff by naming him as a manager of an investment
company charged with welfare housing. Flosse further resurrected Léontieff's career and reputation by appointing him the head of Caisse de Prevoyance Sociale (CPS), French Polynesia's welfare
office, in 2004. He remained the director of the CPS until his death in 2009, despite numerous changes in presidential administrations between 2004 and 2009.
on March 2, 2009 at the age of 60. His was laid in state in the main hall of the Assembly of French Polynesia and buried on March 4, 2009, at the Uranie Cemetery in Tahiti.
The current President of French Polynesia Oscar Temaru quoted the 1947 Nobel Prize
winning French author André Gide
in tribute to Léontieff, "Good workers always have the feeling they could work harder."
President of French Polynesia
This is the list of Presidents of French Polynesia.-See also:*List of monarchs of Tahiti*Colonial and Departmental Heads of French Polynesia-External links:*...
from 1987 to 1991.
Personal life
Léontieff was born on October 20, 1948, at Teahupo'oTeahupo'o
Teahupoo is a village on the south-west coast of the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, southern Pacific Ocean.It is known for the surf break and heavy, glassy waves offshore, often reaching 2 to 3 m and up to 70 feet...
, Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, near the world famous surfing location. He obtained a degree in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University of Rennes
University of Rennes
The University of Rennes was a French university located in the city of Rennes. It was established by the union of the 3 faculties of the city in 1885. In 1969, it was divided in two new universities:* the University of Rennes 1...
in 1970.
Léontieff was of Russian ancestry and the brother of French Polynesian politician Boris Léontieff, a one time cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
minister in the government of Gaston Flosse and former mayor of Arue, French Polynesia
Arue, French Polynesia
Arue is a commune in the suburbs of Papeete in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Arue is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, themselves part of the Society Islands....
. Boris Léontieff later became the leader of his own political party, Fetia Api
Fetia Api
The Fetia Api or Nouvelle Étoile is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23, 2004, and by-elections on February 13, 2005, the party was part of the Alliance for a New Democracy , that won 3 out of 57 seats.It is linked with New Centre for helping the...
. He is believed to have been killed in a small plane crash in May 2002 while on a political campaign trip in the Tuamotu Archipelago. The plane's wreckage and passengers have never been found. Boris Léontieff was 47 years old at the time of his death.
President of French Polynesia
Léontieff was originally a protege of Gaston FlosseGaston Flosse
Gaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France.-Life and career:...
in the Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23, 2004, and by-elections on February 13, 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
political party during the 1980s. Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira endorsed Léontieff's election as one of French Polynesia's two deputies in the National Assembly of France in 1986. Léontieff held the seat in the National Assembly until 1993, despite a later rift with Flosse and the Tahoera'a Huiraatira.
Flosse became French Polynesia's first president from 1984 until 1987. In February 1987, Flosse resigned from the presidency in order to become the first, and only, French state secretary in charge of Pacific affairs. However, Léontieff was passed over as Flosse's handpicked successor in favor of Jacques Teuira
Jacques Teuira
Jacques "Jacky" Teuira was the President of French Polynesia from February 12, 1987 to December 9, 1987. Teuira's predecessor, Gaston Flosse, was the first President of French Polynesia, and the head of Teuira's political party, the pro-autonomy Tahoera'a Huiraatira...
, who became French Polynesia's second president.
Léontieff responded by forming a majority coalition in the Assembly of French Polynesia
Assembly of French Polynesia
The Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The only official language of the...
with others politicians opposed to Flosse and Teuira. Léontieff's coalition filed a censure
Censure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
motion against Teuira, which was adopted by the Assembly. The moved forced Flosse's handpicked successor, Jacques Teuira, to resign as President of French Polynesia in December 1987.
Léontieff became President on December 9, 1987. He served as president from 1987 until 1991. Léontieff quit Gaston Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tahoera'a Huiraatira
Tāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira is a political party in French Polynesia.At the last legislative elections on May 23, 2004, and by-elections on February 13, 2005, the party won 27 out of 57 seats....
political party, and founded his own party, Te Tiarama
Te Tiarama
Te Tiarama is a French Polynesian political party formed by former President of French Polynesia Alexandre Léontieff in January 1988. Léontieff created the new party on January 23, 1988 following his departure from Tahoera'a Huiraatira and a rift with Gaston Flosse.- See also :* List of political...
, on January 23, 1988.
Gatson Flosse left his post in the French government in 1988 and returned to French Polynesia. Flosse became the main opposition leader in the Assembly during Léontieff's four year presidency.
Flosse's Tahoera'a Huiraatira political party defeated Léontieff's governing coalition in the 1991 legislative elections on March 17, 1991. Léontieff left office on April 4, 1991, and was succeeded by Flosse.
Post-presidency
Léontieff returned to political office in 1996, when he won a seat in the Assembly of French Polynesia. The time he was elected as a member of Oscar Temaru's Tavini HuiraatiraTavini Huiraatira
The Tavini Huiraatira is a political party in French Polynesia.The party was founded in 1977 by Oscar Temaru under the name the Front for the Liberation of Polynesia...
, a pro-independence political party.
A Paris Criminal Court convicted Léontieff of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
in three separate cases in 1997. He sentenced to two years in prison in 1999, following a series of appeals.
Gaston Flosse and Alexandre Léontieff reconciled their past personal and political differences in 2001, amazing political observers and French Polynesian analysts. Flosse rewarded Léontieff by naming him as a manager of an investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
company charged with welfare housing. Flosse further resurrected Léontieff's career and reputation by appointing him the head of Caisse de Prevoyance Sociale (CPS), French Polynesia's welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
office, in 2004. He remained the director of the CPS until his death in 2009, despite numerous changes in presidential administrations between 2004 and 2009.
Death
Alexandre Léontieff died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on March 2, 2009 at the age of 60. His was laid in state in the main hall of the Assembly of French Polynesia and buried on March 4, 2009, at the Uranie Cemetery in Tahiti.
The current President of French Polynesia Oscar Temaru quoted the 1947 Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winning French author André Gide
André Gide
André Paul Guillaume Gide was a French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1947. Gide's career ranged from its beginnings in the symbolist movement, to the advent of anticolonialism between the two World Wars.Known for his fiction as well as his autobiographical works, Gide...
in tribute to Léontieff, "Good workers always have the feeling they could work harder."