22 Jul 2013

French Polynesian leaders meet French counterparts

4:06 am on 22 July 2013

The French Polynesian government leaders have met French ministers in Paris but failed in their attempts to get firm assurances for additional financial support.

The French Polynesian president, Gaston Flosse, met the French prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who reportedly acknowledged the reforms adopted in Tahiti aimed at overcoming its deep economic crisis.

Mr Flosse has so far failed in his bid to secure a meeting with the President, Francois Hollande, but met the overseas territories minister, Victorin Lurel, with whom he also raised French Polynesia's wish for an independence referendum to be held as soon as possible.

He said relations between France and French Polynesia have been better under the leadership of Mr Hollande than they were during the five-year term of his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mr Flosse says he has sought the freeing up of funds frozen by Mr Sarkozy for reasons never explained.

The French Polynesian delegation has included its new advisor, Brigitte Girardin, who was the overseas territories minister in the era of Jacques Chirac.