17 Aug 2007

Rautahi Party against change of French Polynesian electoral system

3:33 pm on 17 August 2007

French Polynesia's Rautahi Party says it is against French plans to change the electoral system for the territory's next polls.

Paris abolished system introduced in 2004 under urgency at the beginning of this year and although no territorial election has been held since then it wants to amend it again.

Talks on the political impasse in Tahiti are to be held in France early next with calls for early election on the agenda.

The Rautahi leader, Jean-Christophe Bouissou, says he favours the proportional system in force now.

"Today we hear about changing again. We do not understand because we already changed the law and would like to maintain this kind of election [system]."

Jean-Christophe Bouissou says elections are needed as President Gaston Tong Sang no longer has a majority in the assembly to pass the 2008 budget.