Independence movements

Mā'ohi / French Polynesian political status: current status

Where the question stood on 22 September 2026: French Polynesia remains an autonomous collectivity of France, with the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party holding the presidency and the UN listing dispute unresolved.

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Status verified as of 22 September 2026. Political positions change; this explainer describes the documented position on that date.

Current position

French Polynesia remains an autonomous overseas collectivity of France. The pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party holds the territorial presidency since 2023, though its leadership presents differing views on the immediacy of independence, and the UN listing dispute with France remains unresolved.[1]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: The pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party won the 2023 French Polynesian territorial elections, taking 44.32% of the vote in the second round; Moetai Brotherson became President of French Polynesia in May 2023. Historic party leader Oscar Temaru has maintained an overtly sovereigntist, anti-colonial position, while Brotherson has taken a more measured stance toward France and stated that gaining independence was not the subject of the 2023 election.

    • French Polynesia's New Pro-Independence Leadership (The Diplomat) link, 2023 election and leadership positions section. Source record

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