6 Apr 2011

Temaru determined to implement 2011 budget approved by Tahiti assembly

1:20 pm on 6 April 2011

French Polynesia's new President, Oscar Temaru, has confirmed that he will implement the 2011 budget approved by the assembly last February.

His predecessor, Gaston Tong Sang, who was ousted last weekend, had refused to accept the assembly's budget vote and declined to publish the document in the official journal to make it valid.

Instead he published his one budget.

The French high commissioner didn't say which budget was valid and referred the matter to the French supreme court, whose verdict is not expected until May.

Mr Temaru has told local radio that the budget issue is urgent and the democratic choice has to be respected.

He also pointed to the ultimatum by employers and union to secure the 2011 budget by next week or they will shut down all institutions amid frustration at the uncertainty.