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Temaru Govt Resigns, But He Will Form New Govt
Real estate news By Pacific
Thursday: January 31, 2008
French Polynesia's pro-independence President Oscar Temaru today announced the mass resignation of his government, a move he said was a gesture of "solidarity" with one of his ministers who was found guilty of abuse of power. Temaru told a press conference his government made the decision during the latest Cabinet meeting held today. Earlier today, a Pape'ete tribunal found Small and Medium Businesses Minister Gilles Tefaatau guilty and fined him the equivalent of US$6,340 for abuse of power in a case dating back three years ago. Tefaatau was accused and found guilty of having used his influence as a minister to have his girlfriend employed in the same ministry. Temaru however said he intended to form a new government in the next few days.
The pro-independence leader also said he and his government believed the court ruling on Tefaatau was "untimely" and that, in their view, the French government had a hand in this. Temaru also lashed out at what he termed the "intervention" of French government member and State Secretary for Overseas Territories Christian Estrosi, who was reported to have telephoned local politicians in the wake of the first round of French Polynesia's snap general elections, which was held over the weekend. Temaru also said that he intended to sue Estrosi for "interfering" in French Polynesia's internal politics.
A similar announcement was made last week, but Temaru told reporters the official complaint had this time been filed today with a local tribunal. Temaru also pointed out that until the second round of the general elections on February 10, his government was now in caretaker mode. The surprise announcement comes as results of the first round of general elections, at the weekend, gave a clear lead for former pro-French President Gaston Tong Sang and his To Tatou Ai'a party. Temaru and his long-time political foe, former President Gaston Flosse (and his pro-French Tahoeraa Huiraatira party), were lagging in several constituencies. Flosse, in a public speech yesterday, made amends for past moves, last year that saw a de facto alliance with Temaru to oust Tong Sang from his presidential seat.
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