4 Oct 2007

More opposition in Tahiti to French reform plan

6:22 pm on 4 October 2007

There is more resistance in French Polynesia to French plans to reform the political system under urgency for fresh elections to be held in Tahiti in January.

The small No Oe e Te Nunaa party has joined the two biggest parties in having reservations about the process, saying changes to the organic law should not be made before a new assembly has been chosen.

The party's leader, Nicole Bouteau, says the French minister in charge of overseas territories didn't hold a round table discussion with all parties as promised.

The minister, Christian Estrosi, held bilateral talks with a series of party leaders except Oscar Temaru who declined the invitation for the Paris meetings.

The Tahoeraa Huiraatira and the ruling Union For Democracy are opposed to the French plan to shorten the five-year term of the current assembly and to hold fresh elections in two rounds of voting in January.

The assembly in Tahiti is only consulted but all decisions rest with Paris which plans to push through the reforms within the next month.