20 Jun 2005

French Polynesian political party calls for discussions on electoral system

7:07 am on 20 June 2005

French Polynesia's centrist Alliance For A New Democracy has called for a roundtable discussion to review the electoral system introduced last year.

The Alliance's Nicole Bouteau says this should be part of a review of the 2004 autonomy statute.

The Tahiti Presse news site says provisions in the statute have been at the centre of acrimony between the French government and a range of political parties in the French Pacific territories.

Ms Bouteau has also accused President Oscar Temaru of giving a mixed message about his push for independence.

She says as the territory's president he is seeking to normalise ties with Paris while speaking about independence as leader of his separatist, Tavini Huiraatira Party.