Tahiti: Centrist to abstain in presidential vote

Centrist still insists he’ll abstain in Monday’s presidential vote

(Tahitipresse) - Centrist politician Philip Schyle insisted once again Saturday that he will abstain from voting in Monday’s French Polynesia Assembly election for a new government president.

“We’re always in the center despite all the rumors that are circulating and continue to circulate,” Schyle told Tahitipresse, speaking on behalf of the Alliance for a New Democracy (ADN). He and ADN co-leader Nicole Bouteau have two seats in the 57-seat Assembly.
Schyle’s insistence on ADN’s centrist neutrality came as pro-independence party leader Oscar Temaru continued to try and shore up what appears to be a fragile one-vote majority of 29 seats for his six-party coalition, the Union for Democracy (UPLD).

“I’ll abstain, except if there’s an unexpected change"

“I’ll be there Monday and I’ll abstain, except if there’s an unexpected change,” Schyle said Saturday. “As far as I’m concerned, and as far as we are concerned within the AND, we wish for a united territorial government and not simply an alliance between the Union for Democracy and the ADN,” Schyle said. “The ball is in Oscar Temaru’s camp.”
Schyle appears to have learned from last year’s four-month experience when he and Ms. Bouteau helped Temaru’s coalition govern with a one-vote majority coalition. Schyle now appears to favor a new government composed of ministers from different political parties, regardless of whether they belong to Temaru’s UPLD coalition, the ADN or even outgoing President Gaston Flosse’s Tahoeraa Huiraatira party.
“I’ve had indirect contacts, but not any personal propositions,” Schyle said.

Schyle doubtful how long Frébault family turn-about will last

He was asked about the Frébault family’s separation from Flosse’s party to join Temaru’s coalition. Schyle was doubtful about how long the turn-about would last. “From experience, I’ve never believed in miraculous and spectacular turn-abouts. Aren’t they going to do a new turn-about like they’ve already done?” Schyle asked, adding that it feels like “history is repeating itself”.
For Jean-Alain Frébault, this past week’s switch to Temaru’s side was the third time he’s changed political camps in the past eight months.
Schyle was also asked about Bora Bora Mayor Gaston Tong Sang’s candidature for government president on behalf of Flosse’s party. “Of all the (potential) candidates, he appears to me to be the least controversial”, Schyle said. “I simply hope that he’s not a figurehead for Gaston Flosse.

© Scoop Media