8 Feb 2012

Tahiti issues enter French pre-election discourse

12:18 pm on 8 February 2012

The French overseas territories minister, Marie-Luce Penchard, has rejected criticism by the Socialists, saying they are trying to sell French Polynesia's pro-independence politicians a dream.

This comes after the Socialists accused the French President of just having woken up to the problems in Tahiti.

In a televised address, Nicolas Sarkozy outlined economic measures and surprised viewers by announcing that classified documents about the case of the exiled pro-independence leader Pouvanaa a Oopa would be released.

A French Polynesian member of the French Senate, Richard Tuheiava, says the move is both ridiculous and sad, and could be linked to Mr Sarkozy's possible bid for another term in office.

"These kind of announcements that are really not in the loop of what he has done for France and French Polynesia for the past four years."

Richard Tuheiava