GOVERNMENT
Country
name:
conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France since 1946
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Papeete
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but
there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises,
Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles
Sous-le-Vent
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
Polynesia
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
based on French system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel
MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 9 October 2004); President
of the Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial
Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected
by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57
seats - changed from 49 seats for May 2004 election; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held NA May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy
27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September
1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected
to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to
be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or
Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or
Tribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:
Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira)
[Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON];
People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa
Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [Philippe
SHYLE]; This Country is Yours (No Oe E Te Nunaa) [Nicle BOUTEAU];
Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, ICFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered
on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on
the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half;
a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern;
the French flag is used for official occasions
