9 Mar 2011

French high commissioner awaits court ruling in Tahiti budget dispute

10:35 am on 9 March 2011

The French high commissioner in French Polynesia, Richard Didier, has declined a request by the president of the French Polynesian assembly to assume the function of the president.

The assembly's head and pro-independence leader, Oscar Temaru, had written to Mr Didier in a bid to end the crisis over the 2011 budget.

In the official journal, the president, Gaston Tong Sang, has published his version of the budget which is different from the one approved by the assembly last month.

Mr Temaru asked Mr Didier to step in and suspend the illegal publication of documents by Mr Tong Sang.

Mr Didier says he won't decide which budget is valid, adding that he will be guided by a court ruling expected on the matter.

Mr Tong Sang has also sought a court ruling despite publishing his budget while rejecting the document approved by the assembly.