19 Apr 2011

Anti-politician rally called by employers and unions in French Polynesia

6:53 pm on 19 April 2011

Employers and unions in French Polynesia have called for a rally outside the assembly tomorrow morning to protest against the political class.

This follows an ultimatum by the two sides issued three weeks ago, demanding that the politicians draw up a valid budget and a plan to lead the territory out of its economic crisis.

The deadline was to lapse last week but it was extended because a week ago the assembly had scheduled the election of its new president.

The rally is to express concern over job losses and the politicians' inability to address the decline.

The protest movement has asked shop owners to keep their businesses closed to turn Papeete, as it put it, into a dead city.