, PS 1, independent 1;

French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(5 total) PCR 2, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1, FRA 1

_#_Communists: Communist party small but has support among sugarcane
cutters, the minuscule Popular Movement for the Liberation of Reunion
(MPLR), and in the district of Le Port

_#_Member of: FZ, WFTU

_#_Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France,
Reunionese interests are represented in the US by France

_#_Flag: the flag of France is used

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture.
Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some
years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing
the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment,
which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The white
and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments
of the population, adding to the social tensions generated by poverty
and unemployment. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on
continued financial assistance from France.

_#_GDP: $3.37 billion, per capita $6,000 (1987 est.); real growth
rate 9% (1987 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1988)

_#_Unemployment rate: 35% (February 1991)

_#_Budget: revenues $358 million; expenditures $914 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1986)

_#_Exports: $166 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%,
lobster 3%, vanilla and tea 1%;

partners--France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy

_#_Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco,
machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum
products;

partners--France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy

_#_External debt: NA

_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%; about 25% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 245,000 kW capacity; 546 million kWh produced,
965 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing
handicraft items

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 30% of labor force; dominant sector of
economy; cash crops--sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco; food crops--tropical
fruits, vegetables, corn; imports large share of food needs

_#_Economic aid: Western (non-US)