List of colonial and departmental heads of French Polynesia

High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia
Haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française (French)
Incumbent
Éric Spitz
since 26 September 2022
SeatHaut-Commissariat, Papeete, Tahiti
AppointerPresident of the French Republic
Formation8 January 1843 (Commissioner)
6 September 1881 (Governor)
13 July 1977 (High-Commissioner)
First holderArmand Joseph Bruat
DeputyGeneral Secretary of the High Commission
WebsiteOfficial website

The High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (French: Haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française) is the highest representative of the French Republic in the overseas country of French Polynesia. The rank is equivalent to the one of a prefect (French: Préfet) and its powers are governed by Organic Law 2004–192.[1]

The High Commissioner is directly appointed by the President of the French Republic. He enacts local laws (known as Lois du Pays) with the countersignature of the President of French Polynesia and ensures their publication in the Journal Officiel de la Polynésie française. He is competent for every matters not devolved to the Government of French Polynesia. Until 1984, he has assumed the powers now exercised by the President of French Polynesia.

The overseas minor territory of Clipperton Island falls also under the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner since it is uninhabited and has no local administration.[2]

The official residence and the office of the High Commissioner are housed at the Haut-Commissariat in Papeete.

List of state representatives in French Polynesia

The representative of France hold different titles throughout history. During the period of the protectorate on the Kingdom of Tahiti, this title reflected the political regime of France:

  • Commissioner of the King (1842 – 1848)
  • Commissioner of the Republic (1848 – 1852)
  • Commissioner of the Empire (1852 – 1870)
  • Commissioner of the Republic (1870 – 1880)

After the final annexation of Tahiti by the French Third Republic, the Kingdom of Tahiti was dissolved and the French Establishments of Oceania were created. The state representative was titled Governor until 13 July 1977 when the final name of High Commissioner of the Republic was adopted.

Term start Term end Office holder[3][4] Title
French Protectorate of the Kingdom of Tahiti – Marquesas Islands annexed by the Kingdom of France
8 January 1843 6 September 1846 Armand Joseph Bruat Commissioner of the King
6 September 1846 ?? ?? 1850 Charles François Lavaud Commissioner of the King, later Commissioner of the Republic
?? ?? 1850 5 September 1851 Louis Adolphe Bonard Commissioner of the Republic
5 September 1851 22 Mars 1854 Théogène François Page Commissioner of the Empire
22 Mars 1854 19 May 1858 Joseph Fidèl Eugène du Bouzet Commissioner of the Empire
19 May 1858 25 June 1858 Jean-Marie Joseph Théodore Saisset de Mars Commissioner of the Empire
25 June 1858 11 October 1864 Louis Eugène Gaultier de La Richerie Commissioner of the Empire
11 October 1864 6 June 1869 Émile François Guillaume Clément de La Roncière Commissioner of the Empire
6 June 1869 1 June 1871 Michel Louis Isidore de Jouslard Commissioner of the Empire, later Commissioner of the Republic
1 June 1871 ?? ?? 1873 Hippolyte Auguste Girard Commissioner of the Republic
?? ?? 1873 17 April 1876 Octave Bernard Gilbert-Pierre Commissioner of the Republic
17 April 1876 25 August 1877 Antoine-Léonce Michaux Commissioner of the Republic
25 August 1877 ?? ?? 1877 Joseph Henri Brunet-Millet Commissioner of the Republic
?? ?? 1877 5 February 1878 Auguste Marie Édouard d'Oncieu de la Bâthie acting Commissioner of the Republic
5 February 1878 24 February 1880 Jacques Ferdinand Planche Commissioner of the Republic
24 February 1880 6 September 1881 Henri Isidore Chessé Commissioner of the Republic
French Establishments of Oceania – Tahiti and its islands annexed by the French Third Republic
6 September 1881 8 October 1883 Frédéric Jean Dorlodot des Essarts Governor
8 October 1883 1 December 1885 Marie Nicolas François Auguste Morau Governor
1 December 1885 2 September 1886 Delphino Moracchini acting Governor
2 September 1886 29 October 1889 Étienne Théodore Mondésir Lacascade Governor
29 October 1889 1 July 1890 Maurice d'Ingremard acting Governor
1 July 1890 4 June 1893 Étienne Théodore Mondésir Lacascade Governor
4 June 1893 24 October 1893 Adolphe Jean Granier de Cassagnac acting Governor
24 October 1893 7 December 1893 Lucien Jules Léon Bommier acting Governor
7 December 1893 29 April 1894 Jean Joseph Aimé Ours acting Governor
29 April 1894 1 April 1896 Pierre Louis Clovis Papinaud Governor
1 April 1896 31 January 1897 Gustave Pierre Théodore Gallet acting Governor
31 January 1897 1 February 1898 Marie Louis Gustave Gabrié Governor
1 February 1898 25 Mars 1899 Gustave Pierre Théodore Gallet Governor
25 Mars 1899 14 July 1899 Joseph-Marie de Pous acting Governor
14 July 1899 30 November 1899 Victor François Ferdinand Rey acting Governor
30 November 1899 19 January 1900 Gustave Pierre Théodore Gallet Governor
19 January 1900 25 February 1901 Victor François Ferdinand Rey acting Governor
25 February 1901 ?? ?? 1904 Édouard Georges Théophile Petit Governor
?? ?? 1904 5 February 1904 Victor Louis Marie Lanrezac acting Governor
5 February 1904 20 February 1905 Henri François Charles Cor acting Governor
20 February 1905 28 March 1907 Philippe Émile Jullien Governor
28 March 1907 4 December 1908 Élie Adrien Édouard Charuer acting Governor
4 December 1908 12 August 1910 Joseph Pascal François Governor
12 August 1910 6 April 1912 Adrien Jules Jean Bonhoure Governor
6 April 1912 4 August 1912 Charles Hostein acting Governor
4 August 1912 4 August 1913 Baptiste Léon Géraud acting Governor
4 August 1913 21 September 1915 William Maurice Fawtier Governor
21 September 1915 16 April 1919 Gustave-Jacques-Henri Julien Governor
16 April 1919 17 May 1919 Simoneau acting Governor
17 May 1919 13 February 1921 Jocelyn Robert acting Governor
13 February 1921 10 April 1921 Gabriel Henri Joseph Thaly acting Governor
10 April 1921 17 October 1921 Auguste André Marius Guédès Governor
17 October 1921 18 September 1922 Gabriel Henri Joseph Thaly acting Governor
18 September 1922 7 January 1927 Louis Félix Marie Édouard Rivet Governor
7 January 1927 30 April 1928 Jean Baptiste Dominique Solari acting Governor
30 April 1928 21 June 1930 Joseph Louis Bouge acting Governor
21 June 1930 18 June 1932 Léonce Alphonse Noël Henri Jore Governor
18 June 1932 17 June 1933 Alfred Léon Bouchet acting Governor
17 June 1933 9 May 1935 Michel Lucien Montagné Governor
9 May 1935 17 March 1937 Henri Sautot acting Governor
17 March 1937 4 September 1940 Frédéric Marie Jean-Baptiste Chastenet de Géry [fr] Governor
4 September 1940 14 September 1940 Édouard Ahnne
Georges Lagarde
Émile Martin
Georges Bambridge
Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai		 Provisional Government
14 September 1940 6 November 1940 Edmond Mansard Governor
6 November 1940 16 June 1941 Émile de Curton Governor
16 June 1941 1 October 1941 Richard Brunot Governor
1 October 1941 ?? June 1945 Georges Louis Joseph Orselli Governor
?? June 1945 27 October 1946 Jean-Camille Haumant acting Governor
French Establishments of Oceania – Overseas territory of the French Republic
27 October 1946 10 August 1947 Jean-Camille Haumant Governor
10 August 1947 2 April 1949 Pierre Louis Maestracci Governor
2 April 1949 ?? ?? 1950 Armand Anziani Governor
?? ?? 1950 30 November 1950 Louis Girault acting Governor
30 November 1950 28 September 1954 René Petitbon Governor
28 September 1954 22 July 1957 Jean-François Toby Governor
French Polynesia – Overseas territory of the French Republic
22 July 1957 7 March 1958 Jean-François Toby Governor
7 March 1958 25 October 1958 Camille Victor Bailly acting Governor
25 October 1958 12 December 1961 Pierre René Sicaud Governor
12 December 1961 20 January 1965 Aimé Grimald Governor
20 January 1965 11 March 1969 Jean Charles Sicurani Governor
11 March 1969 1 August 1973 Pierre Louis Angeli Governor
11 August 1973 1 January 1976 Daniel Videau Governor
1 January 1976 1 November 1977 Charles Schmitt Governor, later High Commissioner of the Republic
1 November 1977 16 July 1981 Paul Cousseran High Commissioner of the Republic
16 July 1981[5] 15 January 1983 Paul Noirot-Cosson High Commissioner of the Republic
15 January 1983 9 March 1985 Alain Robert Lucien Ohrel High Commissioner of the Republic
9 March 1985[6] 9 April 1986 Bernard Gérard High Commissioner of the Republic
9 April 1986[7] 17 November 1987 Pierre Louis Angéli High Commissioner of the Republic
17 November 1987[8] 3 January 1992 Jean Montpezat High Commissioner of the Republic
3 January 1992[9] 8 August 1994 Michel Jau High Commissioner of the Republic
8 August 1994[10] 9 October 1997 Paul Roncière High Commissioner of the Republic
9 October 1997[11] 26 October 2001 Jean Aribaud High Commissioner of the Republic
26 October 2001[12] 28 March 2003 Michel Mathieu High Commissioner of the Republic
French Polynesia – Overseas collectivity of the French Republic
28 March 2003 27 February 2004 Michel Mathieu High Commissioner of the Republic
French Polynesia – Overseas country of the French Republic
27 February 2004 18 July 2005 Michel Mathieu High Commissioner of the Republic
18 July 2005[13] 13 June 2008 Anne Boquet High Commissioner of the Republic
13 June 2008[14] 23 December 2010 Adolphe Colrat High Commissioner of the Republic
23 December 2010[15] 1 August 2012 Richard Didier High Commissioner of the Republic
1 August 2012[16] 22 August 2013 Jean-Pierre Laflaquière High Commissioner of the Republic
22 August 2013[17] 6 May 2016 Lionel Beffre High Commissioner of the Republic
6 May 2016[18] 7 June 2019 René Bidal High Commissioner of the Republic
10 July 2019[19] Incumbent Dominique Sorain High Commissioner of the Republic

See also

References

  1. ^ "Organic Law 2004-192". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Decree 2005-1514". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  3. ^ "List of the Commissioners, Governors and High Commissioners of French Polynesia and the French Establishments of Oceania". polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  4. ^ "History of the Assembly of French Polynesia". assemblee.pf. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 16 juillet 1981 M. PAUL NOIROT-COSSON EST NOMME HAUT-COMMISSAIRE DE LA REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE, CHEF DU TERRITOIRE DE LA POLYNESIE FRANCAISE". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  6. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 8 mars 1985 PORTANT CESSATION DE FONCTIONS ET NOMINATION (CORPS PREFECTORAL)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  7. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 9 avril 1986 portant nomination de préfets,hors cadre, commissaires de la République et d'un haut-commissaire de la République". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  8. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 17 novembre 1987 portant nomination de haut-commissaires de la République". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  9. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 3 janvier 1992 portant nomination du haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  10. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décrets du 15 juillet 1994 portant nomination de préfets". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  11. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 9 octobre 1997 portant nomination d'un préfet". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  12. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 26 octobre 2001 portant nomination d'un haut-commissaire de la République". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  13. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 18 juillet 2005 portant nomination d'un haut-commissaire de la République - Mme Boquet (Anne)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  14. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 13 juin 2008 portant nomination d'un haut-commissaire de la République - M. Colrat (Adolphe)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  15. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 23 décembre 2010 portant nomination du haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française - M. Didier (Richard)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  16. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 1er août 2012 portant nomination du haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française - M. Laflaquière (Jean-Pierre)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  17. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 22 août 2013 portant nomination du haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française - M. BEFFRE (Lionel)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  18. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 6 mai 2016 portant nomination du haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française - M. BIDAL (René)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  19. ^ Government of the French Republic. "Décret du 10 juillet 2019 portant nomination du haut-commissaire de la République en Polynésie française - M. SORAIN (Dominique)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 11 July 2019.