The French Polynesian minister in charge of economic reconversion, Teva Rohfritch, has decided to boycott today's budget committee meeting, saying the matter has not been about an exercise in democracy but about taking the population hostage.
Mr Rohfritch issued the statement as all key political leaders joined the committee to revisit the 2010 supplementary budget.
It had been approved unanimously by the same committee two weeks ago but when it was put to a vote in the assembly last week, the ruling coalition was ten votes short to be able to pass it.
It has gone back to the committee for further deliberations.
Mr Rohfritch says all issues had been discussed in detail during the previous committee meeting and he will be taking questions when the supplementary budget is presented for a vote in the full assembly next time.
Among the politicians refusing to endorse the budget addition last week were his colleagues of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party.
