26 Jun 2004

New Caledonian MPs still can't agree on a new president

9:11 am on 26 June 2004

The president of New Caledonia's Territorial Congress, Harold Martin of the Future Together party, and Pierre Maresca for the Rassemblement have flown to Paris to meet French ministers to try and find a solution to the current political impasse.

Meanwhile, the goverment's 11 members met yesterday but were unable to break the deadlock between the two presidential candidates; the Future Together party's Marie-Noelle Themereau and the Rassemblement's Pierre Frogier.

The members will meet again next week before Wednesday's deadline.

Marie-Noelle Themareau told Radio New Caledonia that it's a matter of the highest priority.

"We have to get on with the task of developing the country, we have to deal with the issues that are also important. It's therefore imperative that an absolute majority is formed rapidly."