More elections in French Polynesia

The French Government has reportedly agreed to new elections for the Territorial Assembly in French Polynesia before the adoption of the Paris programme to develop new political statutes for the territory.

This was reported by the Tahitian United Front for Autonomy which issued a press communique in mid-November following Francis Sanford's visit to Paris. Sanford, Tahitian autonomist deputy, resigned his seat in June and was re-elected in September to demonstrate the autonomist strength to Paris.

The communique said that Mr Michel Poniatowski, Minister for the Interior, responsible for French Overseas Territories, had agreed in principle to discuss the new statutes with the United Front for Autonomy and to dissolve the Tahitian Assembly and call new elections.

Mr Sanford was quoted as stating the minister had undertaken to submit the new statutes for the opinion of a newly elected territorial assembly which would he truly representative of the Polynesian people.

The autonomists claim that the present assembly, with a majority of one not working for internal self-government, is no longer truly representative of the people.