French Polynesia is to hold the first round of its early general election on January the 27th.
The date was announced by the French overseas territories minister, Christian Estrosi, during his visit to the town hall of Rangiroa.
According to the reform plan devised by Paris, there will be two rounds of voting, with the second one to be held two weeks later.
Details of the threshold that parties need to attain to make it to the second round are to be finalised when the French assembly and senate debate the plan.
The reform is aimed at increasing political stability but no provisions have been made to curb party-hopping which was a key reason for no confidence motions to be able to succeed.
The last general election was held in May 2004 but half a year later the French supreme court found that the poll was marred by irregularities and annulled the elections of 37 of the assembly's 57 members, prompting a by-election in January 2005.
