18 Nov 2013

French Polynesia gets another minister

4:49 pm on 18 November 2013

A new minister is to be added to French Polynesia's government tomorrow.

Manolita Ly will become the minister of solidarity and family in an appointment already signalled months ago.

The president, Gaston Flosse, is also expected to name a replacement for the transport minister, Bruno Marty, who quit after crashing his car while being almost five times over the legal alcohol limit.

This also comes as the government has finalised its 1.5 billion US dollar budget draft which is now with the assembly.

The budget is described as an austerity budget, with an expectation that Paris will lend support.

The French government has agreed to lend 57 million dollars, which is expected to help pay suppliers and public servants.