31 Jan 2008

Lists finalised for 2nd round of French Polynesian election

4:45 pm on 31 January 2008

Electoral lists have been finalised for the second round of French Polynesia's general election on February the 10th.

Three parties are left to contest 54 seats after the first round produced a majority only in the Marquesas islands which chose a list associated with the To Tatou Aia of Gaston Tong Sang.

Going into the decisive round are To Tatou Aia, the Union For Democracy and the Tahoeraa Huiraatira.

None of them has entered any alliance.

The No Oe E Te Nunaa, whose 6-percent share of vote would have allowed it to join a bigger list, declined to do so and told its backers to vote as they wished.

The French minister in charge of overseas territories, Christian Estrosi, reportedly asked No Oe E Te Nunaa to support To Tatou Aia.

Before the first round of voting, the Union For Democracy lodged a complaint, accusing Mr Estrosi of interference in the election.