1953 French Oceanian legislative election

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|  | 18 January 1953 | 1957 ->

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|

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All 30 seats in the Territorial Assembly
15 seats needed for a majority
| Party  | Leader  | Vote %  | Seats

|
|
|

| RDPT | Pouvanaa a Oopa | 51.88  | 18
| UDSR–RPF |  | 35.66  | 7

This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Politics of French Polynesia

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Legislative elections were held in French Oceania on 18 January 1953, the first to the new Territorial Assembly, which replaced the Representative Assembly.[1]

## Results

[edit]

The result was a victory for the Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (RDPT) led by Pouvanaa a Oopa, which won 18 of the 25 seats.[2] The Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance won five seats and the Rally of the French People two; the two parties had run together as the Union for the Defence of the Interests of French Oceania (UDIOF).[3]

Oopa failed to win a seat in Papeete, and subsequently stated that he would complain about election fraud to the French government.[4] Governor René Petitbon organised an official enquiry, which concluded that the allegations were unfounded.[3]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats

|
|
|

| Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People| 15,062| 51.88| 18
| Union for the Defence of the
Interests of French Oceania| | UDSR| 10,353| 35.66| 5
| RPF| 2
| Independents| 3,615| 12.45| 0
Total| 29,030| 100.00| 25
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly[3][5]

### By constituency

[edit]

Constituency  | Elected members  | Party

|
|

Bora Bora, Maupiti | Pierre Hunter | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
East Tahiti | Paul Bouzer | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Amaru Terii Tepa | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Gambier and Tuamotu Islands | Calixte Jouette | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Huahine | Tautu Oopa | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Northern Marquesas | Raymond Gendron |
Papeete | Walter Grand | Rally of the French People
Albert Leboucher | Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
Martial Iorss | Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
Alfred Poroi | Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
Franck Richmond | Rally of the French People
Peninsula, Moorea, Maiao, Makatea | Charles Lehartel | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
John Teariki[6] | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Raiatea (less Uturoa) | Gaston Deane | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Rurutu, Rimatara | Matani Mooroa | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
South Marquesas | Henri Frebault | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Tahaa | Ariiura Maraea | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Tuamotu Centre | Henri Aumeran | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Tuamotu East | Ropa Colombel | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Tuamotu West | Jean Alexandre | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Tubuai, Raivavae, Rapa | Noël Ilari | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Uturoa | Marcel Tixier |
West Tahiti | Pierre Garbutt | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
René-Raphaël Lagarde | Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Source: Assembly of French Polynesia

## Aftermath

[edit]

Following the elections, the Assembly convened for the first time on 14 March. Jean-Baptiste Céran-Jérusalémy, a member of the RDPT, was elected President of the Assembly two days later.[2]

Following a dispute in the Assembly on 10 April, a fight broke out between Noël Ilari and Alfred Poroi. Ilari then challenged Poroi to a duel, which Poroi agreed should take place at the end of the day. However, the Governor broadcast a radio message, banning it from taking place and stationing police at the homes of the two.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ M. Poroi's victory in Tahiti Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1953, p90
2. ^ a b Tension in French Oceania Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1953, p15
3. ^ a b c d Lively politics in Tahiti Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1953, p101
4. ^ Jean-Marc Regnault (2003) Pouvanaa a Oopa: Victime de la raison d’Etat Les documents parlent, p20
5. ^ Election in Oceania Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1953, p78
6. ^ John Teariki National Assembly of France

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