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PAPEETE, March 25 (AFP) – French Polynesia is to ask Paris’ permission to dissolve its assembly to hold elections, the territory’s president said on Thursday.
Long-standing President Gaston Flosse said he believed the elections would be held in October.
France has recently passed a law giving the territory more autonomy, creating a new constituency, raising the number of assembly seats and changing the voting system.
However, French President Jacques Chirac can refuse a demand for dissolution and has no obligation to schedule one.
French Polynesia is halfway between Australia and South America and has around 230,000 inhabitants.
© AFP
Subject: France news