Tahiti politician wants change regarding abstentions

3:06 pm on 2 February 2018

A French Polynesian member of the French National Assembly has suggested a law change allowing for voting outcomes to be disregarded if there is too much abstention.

French National Assembly member, Moetai Brotherson

French National Assembly member, Moetai Brotherson Photo: AFP

Moetai Brotherson, who is also a member of Oscar Temaru's Tavini Huiraatira Party, said he planned to prepare a bill to that effect.

This followed the low turnout in French Polynesia for the election of members of the French parliament last year when in some constituencies more people abstained than voted.

According to his proposal, if a majority of votes are returned blank, the result should be accepted and the election annulled.

He told Radio 1 that such a change would encourage parties to be more circumspect in what they promise voters.