law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not
legislative acts
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of theBastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Jacques CHIRAC; Union for French Democracy
(UDF, federation of UREI, UC, RDE), Valery Giscard d'ESTAING; Republican
Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET; Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre
MEHAIGNERIE; Radical (RAD), Yves GALLAND; Socialist Party (PS), Michel
ROCARD; Left Radical Movement (MRG), Emile ZUCCARELLI; Communist Party
(PCF), Georges MARCHAIS; National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; Union of
Republican and Independents (UREI); Centrist Union (UC); (RDE)
Other political or pressure groups:
Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) nearly
2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation
Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members est.;
independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.);
independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) 340,000
members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du
Patronat Francais - CNPF or Patronat)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

*France, Government

Elections:
President:
last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held by May 1995); results - Second Ballot
Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%
Senate:
last held NA September 1992 (next to be held September 1995 - nine-year
term, elected by thirds every three years); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (321 total; 296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas
departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF
142 (UREI 51, UC 68, RDE 23), PS 66, PCF 16, independents 2, other 4
National Assembly:
last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24,
independents 26
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an upper house or Senate
(Senat) and a lower house or National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Edouard BALLADU