The French Polynesian opposition Union For Democracy has failed to unseat the government of Gaston Tong Sang in a vote of no confidence, falling two votes short of the required majority.
Assembly members of the ruling Tahoeraa Huiraatira party and most of its pro-autonomy allies boycotted the sitting, which left only 27 out of 57 members voting for the motion.
It was backed by the 26 opposition members and by Michel Yip who joined the Tahoeraa camp last year but resigned from his ministerial job in May.
The Union For Democracy leader, Oscar Temaru, used his speech in the assembly to repeat his call for early elections, accusing the French leadership of having refused to recognise the voters' choice in 2004 and 2005.
His coalition was ousted in December after losing a no-confidence vote supported by assembly members who had re-aligned themselves with the Tahoeraa.
