Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

French Senate approves new electoral system for French Polynesia

Posted at 05:01 on 01 June, 2011 UTC

The French Senate has approved a new electoral system for French Polynesia in a bid to end the territory’s political instability.

The vote follows a proposal by the overseas territories minister, Marie-Luce Penchard, and is the fourth change in eight years decided by Paris.

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.

The assembly will then elect a president and a government of up to 10 ministers for a five-year term.

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 reform will now be debated by the French National Assembly.

The last change of government in Tahiti took place two months ago.