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1953 French Oceanian legislative election

18 January 1953 1957 →

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
President of France Emmanuel Macron High Commissioner of the Republic Éric Spitz President of French Polynesia Moetai Brotherson Council of Ministers Assembly of French Polynesia President: Antony Géros
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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.

Results

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. 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).

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

By constituency

Aftermath

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.

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.

References

1. M. Poroi's victory in Tahiti Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1953, p90
2. ^ Tension in French Oceania Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1953, p15
3. ^ 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

v t e Elections and referendums in French Polynesia
Parliamentary elections	1886 1893 1899 1945–46 1953 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1986 1991 1996 2001 2004 2008 2013 2018 2023
Referendums	1940 1958
See also: Elections and referendums in France

• 1953 elections in Oceania
• Elections in French Polynesia
• 1953 in French Polynesia
• January 1953 events in Oceania