20 Jan 2009

French Polynesia's assembly attempts to pass 2009 budget again

11:38 am on 20 January 2009

French Polynesia's assembly is scheduled to open a second extraordinary session today in a bid to pass the 2009 budget.

It has until the end of March to do so or the territory's financial management will be assumed by the French high commissioner.

The first extraordinary session closed last week amid opposition calls for the budget to be revised.

The balance of power has been held by Sandra Levy-Agami who quit the ruling To Tatou Aia coalition, leaving the two main blocs in the assembly with 28 votes each.

The debate has been slow as each budget item is being scrutinised ahead of the vote, with the government struggling to secure support and therefore forced to accept amendments.

The impasse has also led to top-level talks of the three main political party leaders but after a series of meetings in the past months, they made no progress and abandoned them.