Reports from French Polynesia say the mayor of a French town has resigned because of his prolonged stay in Tahiti.
Les Nouvelles de Tahiti says Joel Gourmand quit the mayoralty of Hermonville after the local council asked him last September to resign, saying it was impossible for him to deal with the commune's affairs properly from such a distance.
The paper says Mr Gourmand had been elected in 2008 but in the middle of last year he took up a French civil aviation job in Tahiti.
He has reportedly asked to have his two-year contract extended by another two years.
