The newly elected territorial assembly of French Polynesia is today due to have its first meeting and elect an assembly president for a five-year term.
Gaston Tong Sang Photo: Alchetron
Two candidates have lined up for the position, which is considered to be the second most important political position.
They are the ruling Tapura Huiraatira's party's Gaston Tong Sang and the Tahoeraa Huiraatira's Teura Iriti.
Mr Tong Sang is favoured to win as the Tapura has two thirds of the assembly's 57 seats.
Two months ago, he was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of $US20,000 for abusing public funds.
He is also the mayor of Bora Bora and was the territory's president three times.
Ms Iriti was a member of the French Senate for several months until a French court annulled her election three years ago because a march by her party's supporters to the polling station on election day was deemed to amount to undue pressure.
Teura Iriti of French Polynesia's Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party Photo: AFP
