9 May 2005

Opposition leader in French Polynesia in Paris to talk about electoral systems

6:50 am on 9 May 2005

The opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party in French Polynesia says talks to restore the old electoral system may be held in Papeete within months.

A year ago, a new system was put into place at the Tahoeraa's instigation, but instead of strengthening the party's grip on power it contributed to unexpected election losses.

The secretary-general of the Tahoeraa, Jean-Christophe Bouissou, says the party leader, Gaston Flosse, is in Paris to raise the matter.

"We'll probably have here in a few weeks, here in French Polynesian, some kind of meeting with all the political parties to discuss about this law about voting for the French Polynesia parliament."

This meeting comes after President Oscar Temaru's official visit to Paris last week during which he met the French prime minister, Jean Pierre Raffarin.