8 May 2013

New French Polynesia government expected next week

5:11 am on 8 May 2013

The leader of French Polynesia's Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party, Gaston Flosse, says he plans to have his new government in place by the end of next week.

His party won two thirds of the seats in the territorial election and Mr Flosse says when the new assembly meets on Thursday next week, his deputy, Edouard Fritch, will be elected as the assembly's president.

He says the assembly will be reconvened a day later for him to be elected president as his party has chosen him to be a candidate.

Mr Flosse says once the result has been made official that night, he will name his seven ministers for them to take office the following Monday.

While confirming his proposed government line-up on television, he has declined to say who will be the vice-president.

The Tahoeraa has 38 of the assembly's 57 seats, more than trebling its representation since the last polls in 2008.