The political stand-off in French Polynesia has prompted a government assembly member to cancel her planned attendance at this week’s Pacific conference on women representation in the Cook Islands, Radio New Zealand International reports.

Sabrina Birk of the Union for Democracy was to talk about the French Polynesian assembly which is the only national parliament to have a majority of women.

But last week’s election of a new assembly president has re-aligned the political groups and fuelled opposition moves to try to topple the Oscar Temaru-led government by lodging a no-confidence motion.

Ms Birk said committees need to be formed tomorrow and there can be no proxy voting.

“Debates will continue at the territorial assembly and we cannot give our votes to somebody else. Therefore each vote is very precious and so I have to stay to be able to continue to vote.” she said.

The opposition Gastone Flosse said there would be discussions on whether to submit a motion of no confidence.

Source: Pacific Islands