n amended numerous times, last
time 27 July 1998

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since
26 October 2000); note - took power following a popular overthrow of
the interim leader Gen. Robert GUEI who had claimed a dubious
victory in presidential elections; Gen. GUEI himself had assumed
power on 25 December 1999, following a military coup against the
government of former President Henri Konan BEDIE

head of government: Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and
Development Affi N'GUESSAN (since 27 October 2000) appointed by the
president

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 26 October 2000 (next is scheduled to be held NA
2005); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote
- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other
2.2%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (225 seats; members are elected in single- and
multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)

elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections
on 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2

note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election
in 2005

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four
chambers: Judicial Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for
financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases,
and Administrative Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit
to the number of members

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Cote
d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or PDCI-RDA [Aime Henri Konan
BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian
Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans or
RDR [Henriette DAGRI-DIABATE]; Union for Democracy and Peace [Gen.
Robert GUEI]; over 20 smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, Af