refect Rene MAURICE (since NA) who was
appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the General Council Gerard GRIGNON
(since NA)

Legislative branch: unicameral
General Council: elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held
NA April 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19
total, 15 from Saint Pierre, 4 from Miquelon) Socialist Party (PS)
holds majority of seats
French Senate: elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be
held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) RPR 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (1 total) UDF 1

Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur
d'Appel)

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS); Rassemblement
pour la Republique (RPR); Union pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF)

International organization participation: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity of
France)

US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity of
France)

Flag: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a
black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band
is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a green
diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross
dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a white
background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red
background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on
top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy
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Economic overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their
livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off
the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however,
because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped
steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the
islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a
longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents
only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily
subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $68 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%