Pacific

France again changes French Polynesia's electoral system

14:25 pm on 1 July 2011

The French National Assembly has followed the Senate in approving a new electoral system for French Polynesia.

The new proportional system will again provide for two rounds of voting, with lists needing the support of at least 12.5 percent of the votes to make it to the second round.

The winning list in the second round will get a third of all seats in the 57-member assembly as a bonus, while the remainder will be distributed according to the lists' relative strength.

Under the new system, a motion of no confidence will only succeed if it has the support of at least 60 percent of the assembly.

The change, which is based on an initiative of the overseas territories minister, Marie-Luce Penchard, is the fourth in eight years decided by Paris in a bid to increase political stability.

The next election is due in 2013.