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Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People

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The Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (Template:Lang-fr, abbreviated RDPT) was a political party in French Oceania/French Polynesia. The party was led by Pouvanaa a Oopa.

Pouvanaa had been elected to the French National Assembly in 1949. After that victory, his supporters founded the RDPT. At the time of its foundation, the party proposed various political and social reforms in favour of the Maohi community, such as calling for land reform, expanded access to education and employments in the public sector, strengthened social security. The party sought to increase the powers of the Territorial Assembly, acheiving more autonomy from metropolitan France.[1]

The RDPT rapidly became widely popular amongst the Maohis. In particular it attracted support from poor rural populations. Pouvanaa retained his seat in the French National Assembly in the 1951 and 1953 elections. RDPT leaders Dr. Florisson and Jean-Baptise Céran-Jerusalémy became French Senator and French Union assemblyman, respectively.[1]

However, running the regional government became increasingly difficult for the party. The RDPT sought to build a national economy through the introduction of an income tax scheme, to prepare the islands for independence. The French government had become increasingly bothered by the influence of RDPT, and the local Governor conspirated against the RDPT government. Protests against the RDPT goverment were mobilized by the urban opposition, the Chinese community and in particular the French business community. Moreover rivalry between Pouvanaa and Céran had reached a critical point, and Céran was expelled. Céran's followers founded a rival party, RDPT-Aratai.[1]

In 1960 Pouvanaa a Oopa's son, Marcel Oopa, was elected to the French National Assembly as a RDPT candidate. He died soon afterwards. In the 1962 National Assembly election, RDPT candidate John Teariki was elected from French Polynesia. Territorial Assembly elections were held the same year. With 14 out of 30 seats, RDPT retained its position as the largest party in the Assembly albeit their number of seats had decreased. After the election RDPT formed a coalition government.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Denoon, Donald. The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. pp. 339-340
  2. ^ Denoon, Donald. The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. p. 342
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