12 Dec 2006

French Polynesian government faces no-confidence vote

9:43 am on 12 December 2006

French Polynesia's opposition parties have lodged a no confidence motion in the government of Oscar Temaru.

The motion was deposited with the territorial assembly last night, and the leader of the opposition Rautahi Party, Jean-Christophe Bouissou, says he expects a vote to be held the day after tomorrow.

Several opposition parties have joined forces to push for the ousting of the Temaru government.

Among them are the territory's biggest party, the Tahoeraa Huiraatira led by Gaston Flosse, who was briefly returned to power in October 2004 after a successful motion of no confidence.

However, at the time the Temaru government refused to recognise the purported change of government and kept occupying the presidential palace.

The French supreme court then proceeded to annul the Tahiti result of the May 2004 election because of irregularities in Mahina.

The Tahiti by-election that followed strengthened Mr Temaru's power base but after defections and counter defections, his coalition may now be ousted for the second time in two years.