Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995); represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul
RONCIERE (since 8 August 1994) who was appointed by the French
Ministry of Interior
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
the Territorial Assembly Tinomana EBB (since NA)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
Territorial Assembly: elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to be
held NA March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(41 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian
Union Party 12, New Fatherland Party 7, other 4
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) party NA
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; Court of the First Instance;
Court of Administrative Law

Political parties and leaders: People's Rally for the Republic
(Tahoeraa Huiraatira), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party
(includes Te Tiarama and Here Ai'a Party), Jean JUVENTIN; New
Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Independent Party (Ia
Mana Te Nunaa), Jacques DROLLET; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa, Tinomana EBB;
Haere i Mua, Alexandre LEONTIEFF; other small parties

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

Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of
France)

US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag: 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

Economy
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Economic overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military
personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a
subsistence economy to one in which a hi