Pacific

French minister notes politicians' ways in Tahiti instability

14:15 pm on 3 December 2009

The French minister in charge of overseas territories, Marie-Luce Penchard, has warned that the political instability in French Polynesia has a negative impact on development plans drawn up in consultation with Paris.

This comes as a fresh debate has erupted in Tahiti over whether to lodge a no confidence motion in the government formed last weekend - the fifth administration since last year's early general election called by France in a bid to increase political stability.

Mrs Penchard has told RFO radio in France that changing the statute again may not help.

"You can always change the laws but you see that the political landscape in Polynesia is unusual and the the functioning of the classic parties as we see it here in France is of little importance. There are unnatural alliances that are formed regularly."

Marie-Luce Penchard