22 Sep 2004

Veteran Cook Islands politician seeks recount of election result

10:16 am on 22 September 2004

One of the senior figures in Cook Islands politics has launched a petition against the election result that saw him lose his seat.

It's a week after Norman George lost his seat to the Democratic party's candidate, Eugene Tatuava, 67 to 73, in the general elections

Mr George's petition is one of at least seven to emerge from the election to date.

Despite winning 14 of the 24 seats, the Democratic Party is filing six petitions, challenging the outcomes in two constituencies and defending their ability to present evidence in four other seats.

The Chief Electoral Registrar Terry Hagen confirmed that Mr George is is seeking a recount in his Atiu constituency.

"The petition documentation will be processed and the parties involved will all be notified within the next 24 hours. And then we'll hear from themselves or their counsel and we'll hopefully be able to move it from there to a date for the petition hearings to be heard in court."