11 Oct 2004

French Polynesia Assembly President yet to set date for presidential election

9:35 pm on 11 October 2004

The president of French Polynesia Assembly President Antony Géros says he needs to study the organic law about setting a date for parliament to choose a new government president.

The coalition government led by Oscar Temaru was ousted in a no-confidence move backed by 29 of the territorial assembly's 57 members at the weekend, toppling the 15-week old government.

Asked when the next parliamentary session would be held, Mr Géros told the Tahitipresse news agency that he would look at that in the next day or so.

The new statute governing relations between France and French Polynesia that took effect in March requires that the election of a new president be held within 15 days.

But attempts by former French Polynesian President, Gaston Flosse, and members of his new majority coalition to have Mr Géros set a date for the next session to elect a new government president have failed so far.