Edouard Fritch
Encyclopedia
Edouard Fritch is French Polynesia
n 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
.
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.
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 ballot
s. 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
.
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He has served as the current Speaker of 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...
since April 12, 2007. Fritch is co-President of Tahoeraa Huiraatira, a pro-French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
2008 Legislative Election
The French Polynesian legislative election, 2008French Polynesian legislative election, 2008
An early legislative election to the Assembly of French Polynesia was held in French Polynesia in early 2008. The first round of the election was held on 27 January 2008, with the second round held on 10 February 2008...
took place on January 27, 2008, and February 10, 2008. The pro-French political of former President
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:*...
Gaston Tong Sang
Gaston Tong Sang
Gaston Tong Sang is the former President of French Polynesia. He served terms as President of French Polynesia from November 2009 until April 2011, from April 2008 until February 2009 and from December 2006 until September 2007.; he is currently the Mayor of Bora-Bora...
, O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
‘O Pōrīnetia To Tātou ‘Ai‘a is a French Polynesian anti-independence political party founded by Gaston Tong Sang on 1 October 2007 after he split from his former party, the Tāhō‘ēra‘a Huira‘atira...
, secured 27 of the 57 seats in the new French Polynesian Assembly
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...
. 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
O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
‘O Pōrīnetia To Tātou ‘Ai‘a is a French Polynesian anti-independence political party founded by Gaston Tong Sang on 1 October 2007 after he split from his former party, the Tāhō‘ēra‘a Huira‘atira...
party and the Tahoeraa Huiraatira to form a new pro-French coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
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
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
He served as Speaker for only two months under Gaston Flosse
Gaston 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 2008 until Gaston Tong Sang was elected president in April 2008.
2009 Presidential election
Fritch stood as a candidate for President of French PolynesiaPresident 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:*...
for 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....
party in the 2009 French Polynesian presidential election
French Polynesian presidential election, 2009
An indirect presidential election was held in French Polynesia on 11 February 2009, after defections from the ruling pro-autonomy faction and a scheduled constructive vote of no confidence planned for 12 February 2009 caused the incumbent Gaston Tong Sang to step down on 7 February 2009.This...
. However, he failed to garner enough votes, coming in third place to Oscar Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
.
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
Legal advice
In the common law, legal advice is the giving of a formal opinion regarding the substance or procedure of the law by an officer of the court , ordinarily in exchange for financial or other tangible compensation...
from the French Council of State in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Fritch was defeated by Philip Schyle
Philip Schyle
Philip Schyle is a French Polynesian politician and a member of the O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a political party. He is also president of the Fetia Api political party. Schyle became the President of the Assembly of French Polynesia on April 9, 2009...
in the Speakers election on Thursday morning, April 9, 2009. Schyle, a member of the O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a
‘O Pōrīnetia To Tātou ‘Ai‘a is a French Polynesian anti-independence political party founded by Gaston Tong Sang on 1 October 2007 after he split from his former party, the Tāhō‘ēra‘a Huira‘atira...
, received 40 votes, while Fritch garnered obtained just 14 votes. One Assembly member did not vote and there were two blank ballot
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
s. 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
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
.