18 Dec 2006

Ousted French Polynesia president nominated for this week's presidential elections

6:44 am on 18 December 2006

The ousted French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru, has been nominated as a candidate in this week's presidential election, facing the Tahoeraa Huiraatira's candidate, Gaston Tong Sang.

Four days ago Mr Temaru's government was voted out when the 29 members present in the assembly approved a motion of no confidence fronted by Mr Tong Sang.

Walter Zweifel reports.

"The two already contested the previous presidential election in February of last year when Mr Temaru secured 29 out the 57 assembly votes to be elected president for the second time in less than nine months. The two assembly members who switched sides to back the motion just days after voting for the budget are reported to have flown to Auckland. And the assembly president, Philip Schyle, who also voted for the motion, says he won't back the Tahoeraa candidate as he wants a fresh general election to break the continued impasse on the local political scene.French police reinforcements are to be dispatched to Tahiti for the election. The previous ouster of the Temaru government resulted in a messy legal situation and led to an extended occupation of key government buildings."