s of intermixed French, African, Malagasy, Chinese,
Pakistani, and Indian ancestry
Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%
Languages:
French (official); Creole widely used
Literacy:
69% (male 67%, female 74%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
Labor force:
NA; agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981); 63% of population of
working age (1983)
Organized labor:
General Confederation of Workers of Reunion (CGTR)

:Reunion Government

Long-form name:
Department of Reunion
Type:
overseas department of France
Capital:
Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
National holiday:
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Executive branch:
French president, commissioner of the Republic
Legislative branch:
General Council, Regional Council
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:
Commissioner of the Republic Jacques DEWATRE (since July 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS; Union for French Democracy
(UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Paul VERGES;
France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON; Socialist Party (PS),
Jean-Claude FRUTEAU; Social Democrats (CDS); other small parties
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
General Council:
last held September/October 1988 (next to be held NA 1994); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total) PCR 9, PS 4, UDF 6, other
left-wing 2, RPR 4, right-wing 19
Regional Council:
last held 16 March 1986 (next to be held NA March 1992); results - RPR/UDF
36.8%, PCR 28.2%, FRA and other right wing 17.3%, PS 14.1%, other 3.6%;
seats - (45 total) RPR/UDF 18, PCR 13, FRA and other right wing 8, PS 6
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA September 1992); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total) RPR-UDF 1, PS 1, independent
1
French National Assembly:
last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held NA June 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (5 total) PCR 2, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1, FRA
1; note - Reunion elects 3 members to th