26 Mar 2013

French Polynesian parties submit lists for April election

2:33 pm on 26 March 2013

Reports from French Polynesia say ten lists of candidates have been handed in by the midday deadline today to contest the territorial election on April the 21st of a new assembly.

Among the parties to so today were the ruling Union For Democracy and the opposition Tahoearaa Huiraatira.

The other main opposition force in the assembly, the A Tia Porinetia, registered its list last week.

To move to the second round of voting, a list must secure 12.5 percent of the votes.

The winning list in the run-off on May the 5th will get a third of the seats as a bonus, with the remaining two thirds to be divided in proportion to the parties' relative strength.

The bonus seat provision was brought back in the expectation that a substantial and stable majority will emerge.