[1] He was elected president of the Assembly in 1949 following the death of his predecessor, Joseph Quesnot.
[1][3] As Assembly president he denounced corruption in the administration[4] and opposed Chinese immigration to French Polynesia.
[5] In October 1951 he gave a speech during the budget debate denouncing Governor René Petitbon, accusing him of running a "ruinous Administration", denouncing his policies towards native courts and the Tahitian language, and calling for autonomy for French Polynesia.
[7] In early 1968 he was part of French Polynesia's delegation to France seeking autonomy.
[8] In May 1968 he was elected Assembly president, and served three terms in the next five years, alternating with John Teariki as part of a coalition deal.