3 May 2005

French Polynesia opposition off to Paris to coincide with Temaru visit

8:07 pm on 3 May 2005

French Polynesia's opposition leaders are off to Paris for a visit which co-incides with the territory's president, Oscar Temaru's first scheduled meeting with the French prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

Mr Temaru is to meet a range of leaders, including the overseas territories minister and the presidents of the two chambers of parliament.

The opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira's secretary-general, Jean-Christophe Bouissou, says Gaston Flosse and Edouard Fritch will be holding talks in Paris as Mr Temaru is there for the first time since his re-election two months ago.

He says they will meet members of the UMP to which his party is affiliated.

"What we have in schedule is to discuss with the president of the UMP over there, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, probably also with other ministers of the French government."

Jean-Christophe Bouissou says he expects talks to be held soon on reviewing the electoral system.

Mr Flosse was in Paris last a month ago in what was said to have been in his role as French Polynesia's member of the French senate.