Napole Polutele

Born on Wallis,^[2] he studied in metropolitan France in Toulouse and Bordeaux, then began a career as a secondary school history and geography teacher, first in Nouméa (New Caledonia) for a year, then in his home island.^[2]

He served as a member of the Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna,^[3] before entering French national politics. He stood as a candidate in the 2013 by-election for Wallis and Futuna's seat in the French National Assembly. Although he stood as an independent, he was endorsed and supported by the right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).^[2] He was elected, in the second round on 24 March, with 37.5% of the vote, ahead of two candidates of the left.^[4] Two months later, having been elected to sit on the opposition benches (albeit officially as an independent), he joined the ranks of the Socialist-led majority in the National Assembly. He explained frankly that being a member of the majority would make it easier for him to lobby the government for funds and services for his constituents - who, he said, cared little for the left-right divide prevalent in metropolitan France. He subsequently sat as an independent on the benches of the left.^[5] Specifically, he promised to lobby for the setting up of a better sewerage system in the territory, and faster repairs following damage caused by a cyclone.^[5] His crossing the floor so soon after his election caused strong reactions within the UMP, with party leader Jean-François Copé describing it as "shocking" and the party's parliamentary leader Christian Jacob calling it "outrageous".^[6]

His re-election in June 2017 was annulled by the Constitutional Council on 2 February 2018, forcing a by-election.^[7]