Pacific

Tahiti's Flosse dismissive of opposition challenge

14:08 pm on 31 July 2014

The French Polynesian president, Gaston Flosse, has told the opposition in the territorial assembly that no matter what it does it won't be able to take down his party.

Flosse was responding to the opposition challenge to his rule, which is continuing because the French government has stopped a French supreme court ruling declaring Flosse ineligible to remain in office.

His suspended jail sentence and fine were also upheld by the Paris court last week, but the French High Commissioner decided not to deliver the verdict to make it official.

Although Flosse has not been served the sentence, he has asked Francois Hollande for a presidential pardon and is continuing in office.

Several opposition politicians have questioned the credibility of the territorial assembly in making laws when the territory is run by a person deemed by law to have to leave office.