17 Apr 2008

Little hope for broadening of French Polynesian government

7:03 pm on 17 April 2008

A French Polynesian opposition assembly member, Sabrina Birk, says she doubts President Gaston Tong Sang will succeed in his bid to broaden his government.

He called for members of other parties to support his administration after he managed in getting two members to defect last weekend.

That gave his To Tatou Aia coalition the minimum of 29 assembly members needed to adopt the motion of no confidence that ousted Gaston Flosse.

Mr Tong Sang had accused Mr Flosse of public perjury and after ousting him, he said the cheat had lost his mask.

Ms Birk of the Union For Democracy says the appeals for cooperation will fall on deaf ears.

"None of us will work for Gaston Tong Sang because the way he went around this political move, that was an insult to our party and the union we made with Gaston Flosse."

Sabrina Birk