20 Facts About Oscar Temaru

Oscar Manutahi Temaru was born on November 1,1944 and is a Tahitian politician.

Oscar Temaru has been President of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and from 2011 to 2013 and mayor of Faa'a since 1983.

Oscar Temaru first served as the President of French Polynesia from June 15,2004 until his Government lost a no-confidence motion on October 8,2004.

Oscar Temaru was the caretaker President for two weeks after that, but was forced to give up the presidency until March 2005, when he was reelected after parliamentary by-elections.

Oscar Temaru is leader of the five party coalition Union For Democracy, which includes his pro-independence party Tavini Huiraatira and other smaller parties that support autonomy for French Polynesia rather than independence.

Oscar Temaru was re-elected president on March 3,2005.

Oscar Temaru lost a vote of no confidence on 13 December 2006, after months of protests against the high cost of living in French Polynesia.

Oscar Temaru ran for parliament in the 2007 elections, but failed to win a seat.

On September 14,2007, Oscar Temaru was elected as President of French Polynesia for the third time in three years.

Oscar Temaru fell in a vote of no confidence on 25 November 2009, and was again replaced by Tong Sang.

Oscar Temaru was twice elected as the President of the Assembly of French Polynesia from February 2008 to February 2009, and from April 2010 to April 2011.

Oscar Temaru was re-elected to the Assembly in the 2023 election.

Oscar Temaru was educated in Faa'a and Papeete, where he received a thorough religious education.

Oscar Temaru was born to a Tahitian father and a Cook Island Maori mother, and has stated that he has Chinese ancestry.

Oscar Temaru entered the French Navy for three years in 1961 and participated in the Algerian War of Independence.

Oscar Temaru has been a vocal campaigner against nuclear testing by France at Moruroa and Fangataufa Atolls since the 1970s.

In 1977, Oscar Temaru formed his political party, the Front for the Liberation of Polynesia.

Oscar Temaru pledged there would be no immediate moves to independence.

Oscar Temaru was given a suspended six-month prison sentence and fined 5 million Pacific francs.

Oscar Temaru announced his new presidential cabinet on September 19,2007, shortly after his election as President of French Polynesia.