List of colonial and departmental heads of French Polynesia

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]

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 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 18436 September 1846Armand Joseph BruatCommissioner of the King
6 September 1846?? ?? 1850Charles François LavaudCommissioner of the King, later Commissioner of the Republic
?? ?? 18505 September 1851Louis Adolphe BonardCommissioner of the Republic
5 September 185122 Mars 1854Théogène François PageCommissioner of the Empire
22 Mars 185419 May 1858Joseph Fidèl Eugène du BouzetCommissioner of the Empire
19 May 185825 June 1858Jean-Marie Joseph Théodore Saisset de MarsCommissioner of the Empire
25 June 185811 October 1864Louis Eugène Gaultier de La RicherieCommissioner of the Empire
11 October 18646 June 1869Émile François Guillaume Clément de La RoncièreCommissioner of the Empire
6 June 18691 June 1871Michel Louis Isidore de JouslardCommissioner of the Empire, later Commissioner of the Republic
1 June 1871?? ?? 1873Hippolyte Auguste GirardCommissioner of the Republic
?? ?? 187317 April 1876Octave Bernard Gilbert-PierreCommissioner of the Republic
17 April 187625 August 1877Antoine-Léonce MichauxCommissioner of the Republic
25 August 1877?? ?? 1877Joseph Henri Brunet-MilletCommissioner of the Republic
?? ?? 18775 February 1878Auguste Marie Édouard d'Oncieu de la Bâthieacting Commissioner of the Republic
5 February 187824 February 1880Jacques Ferdinand PlancheCommissioner of the Republic
24 February 18806 September 1881Henri Isidore ChesséCommissioner of the Republic
French Establishments of Oceania – Tahiti and its islands annexed by the French Third Republic
6 September 18818 October 1883Frédéric Jean Dorlodot des EssartsGovernor
8 October 18831 December 1885Marie Nicolas François Auguste MorauGovernor
1 December 18852 September 1886Delphino Moracchiniacting Governor
2 September 188629 October 1889Étienne Théodore Mondésir LacascadeGovernor
29 October 18891 July 1890Maurice d'Ingremardacting Governor
1 July 18904 June 1893Étienne Théodore Mondésir LacascadeGovernor
4 June 189324 October 1893Adolphe Jean Granier de Cassagnacacting Governor
24 October 18937 December 1893Lucien Jules Léon Bommieracting Governor
7 December 189329 April 1894Jean Joseph Aimé Oursacting Governor
29 April 18941 April 1896Pierre Louis Clovis PapinaudGovernor
1 April 189631 January 1897Gustave Pierre Théodore Galletacting Governor
31 January 18971 February 1898Marie Louis Gustave GabriéGovernor
1 February 189825 Mars 1899Gustave Pierre Théodore GalletGovernor
25 Mars 189914 July 1899Joseph-Marie de Pousacting Governor
14 July 189930 November 1899Victor François Ferdinand Reyacting Governor
30 November 189919 January 1900Gustave Pierre Théodore GalletGovernor
19 January 190025 February 1901Victor François Ferdinand Reyacting Governor
25 February 1901?? ?? 1904Édouard Georges Théophile PetitGovernor
?? ?? 19045 February 1904Victor Louis Marie Lanrezacacting Governor
5 February 190420 February 1905Henri François Charles Coracting Governor
20 February 190528 March 1907Philippe Émile JullienGovernor
28 March 19074 December 1908Élie Adrien Édouard Charueracting Governor
4 December 190812 August 1910Joseph Pascal FrançoisGovernor
12 August 19106 April 1912Adrien Jules Jean BonhoureGovernor
6 April 19124 August 1912Charles Hosteinacting Governor
4 August 19124 August 1913Baptiste Léon Géraudacting Governor
4 August 191321 September 1915William Maurice FawtierGovernor
21 September 191516 April 1919Gustave-Jacques-Henri JulienGovernor
16 April 191917 May 1919Simoneauacting Governor
17 May 191913 February 1921Jocelyn Robertacting Governor
13 February 192110 April 1921Gabriel Henri Joseph Thalyacting Governor
10 April 192117 October 1921Auguste André Marius GuédèsGovernor
17 October 192118 September 1922Gabriel Henri Joseph Thalyacting Governor
18 September 19227 January 1927Louis Félix Marie Édouard RivetGovernor
7 January 192730 April 1928Jean Baptiste Dominique Solariacting Governor
30 April 192821 June 1930Joseph Louis Bougeacting Governor
21 June 193018 June 1932Léonce Alphonse Noël Henri JoreGovernor
18 June 193217 June 1933Alfred Léon Bouchetacting Governor
17 June 19339 May 1935Michel Lucien MontagnéGovernor
9 May 193517 March 1937Henri Sautotacting Governor
17 March 19374 September 1940Frédéric Marie Jean Baptiste Chastenet de GéryGovernor
4 September 194014 September 1940Édouard Ahnne
Georges Lagarde
Émile Martin
Georges Bambridge
Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai		Provisional Government
14 September 19406 November 1940Edmond MansardGovernor
6 November 194016 June 1941Émile de CurtonGovernor
16 June 19411 October 1941Richard BrunotGovernor
1 October 1941?? June 1945Georges Louis Joseph OrselliGovernor
?? June 194527 October 1946Jean-Camille Haumantacting Governor
French Establishments of Oceania – Overseas territory of the French Republic
27 October 194610 August 1947Jean-Camille HaumantGovernor
10 August 19472 April 1949Pierre Louis MaestracciGovernor
2 April 1949?? ?? 1950Armand AnzianiGovernor
?? ?? 195030 November 1950Louis Giraultacting Governor
30 November 195028 September 1954René PetitbonGovernor
28 September 195422 July 1957Jean-François TobyGovernor
French Polynesia – Overseas territory of the French Republic
22 July 19577 March 1958Jean-François TobyGovernor
7 March 195825 October 1958Camille Victor Baillyacting Governor
25 October 195812 December 1961Pierre René SicaudGovernor
12 December 196120 January 1965Aimé GrimaldGovernor
20 January 196511 March 1969Jean Charles SicuraniGovernor
11 March 19691 August 1973Pierre Louis AngeliGovernor
11 August 19731 January 1976Daniel VideauGovernor
1 January 19761 November 1977Charles SchmittGovernor, later High Commissioner of the Republic
1 November 197716 July 1981Paul CousseranHigh Commissioner of the Republic
16 July 1981[5]15 January 1983Paul Noirot-CossonHigh Commissioner of the Republic
15 January 19839 March 1985Alain Robert Lucien OhrelHigh Commissioner of the Republic
9 March 1985[6]9 April 1986Bernard GérardHigh Commissioner of the Republic
9 April 1986[7]17 November 1987Pierre Louis AngéliHigh Commissioner of the Republic
17 November 1987[8]3 January 1992Jean MontpezatHigh Commissioner of the Republic
3 January 1992[9]8 August 1994Michel JauHigh Commissioner of the Republic
8 August 1994[10]9 October 1997Paul RoncièreHigh Commissioner of the Republic
9 October 1997[11]26 October 2001Jean AribaudHigh Commissioner of the Republic
26 October 2001[12]28 March 2003Michel MathieuHigh Commissioner of the Republic
French Polynesia – Overseas collectivity of the French Republic
28 March 200327 February 2004Michel MathieuHigh Commissioner of the Republic
French Polynesia – Overseas country of the French Republic
27 February 200418 July 2005Michel MathieuHigh Commissioner of the Republic
18 July 2005[13]13 June 2008Anne BoquetHigh Commissioner of the Republic
13 June 2008[14]23 December 2010Adolphe ColratHigh Commissioner of the Republic
23 December 2010[15]1 August 2012Richard DidierHigh Commissioner of the Republic
1 August 2012[16]22 August 2013Jean-Pierre LaflaquièreHigh Commissioner of the Republic
22 August 2013[17]6 May 2016Lionel BeffreHigh Commissioner of the Republic
6 May 2016[18]7 June 2019René BidalHigh Commissioner of the Republic
10 July 2019[19]IncumbentDominique SorainHigh 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.
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