Pacific

Pension woes prompt Wallis election boycott call

16:25 pm on 9 April 2018

Reports from Wallis and Futuna say pensioners have vowed to boycott this weekend's election of the territory's new member of the French National Assembly.

Wallis and Futuna flag Photo: 123RF

The public broadcaster said the call had been made as a protest at the retirement system because many find the restrictions to get the minimum pension unfair.

Almost 1000 people are affected by the contested terms of the scheme.

The new election was called in February after the constitutional court in Paris found that 21 proxy votes were irregular which deprived the winner Napole Polutele of his slim majority.

His victory was challenged by Sylvain Brial who came second in last year's election.

In 2012, the French National Assembly election in Wallis and Futuna was also annulled because the winner David Verge produced flawed campaign accounts.