[2] He was educated at Saint-Elme school in Arcachon, Gironde, then trained as a dentist.
[3] He entered politics at the urging of his uncle and became a municipal councillor.
At the 1977 election he was co-leader with Francis Sanford of the United Front, and was re-elected.
[7][8] As a senator he called for a South Pacific common market,[9] and for Clipperton Island to be annexed to French Polynesia.
[11] In 1995 he condemned France's resumption of nuclear testing at Mururoa.