s 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 Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994)

head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996)

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
seven-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 (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)

elections: last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Independent Front for
the Liberation of Polynesia 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4

note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September
1989 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote
by party - NA; seats by party - UC 1; two seats were elected to the
French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2

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: Centrist Union or UC [leader NA];
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 (Tahoeraa Huiraatira)
[Gaston FLOSSE]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU,