28 Apr 2010

Sarkozy rebuffs French Polynesian call for fresh elections

1:29 pm on 28 April 2010

A letter by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has been released in Tahiti, stating his refusal to dissolve the French Polynesian assembly and call fresh elections now.

The letter was sent in response to a request by French Polynesia's president, Gaston Tong Sang, earlier this month, saying it was no longer possible to run the territory's government under the current circumstances.

His ruling coalition's attempt to pass the assembly presidency to the veteran politician, Gaston Flosse, failed when most of its members refused to honour their coalition deal to back him and chose an opposition candidate, Oscar Temaru, instead.

Mr Sarkozy says before any dissolution is considered, the electoral law needs to be amended.

France has amended the electoral law under urgency three times since 2004.