Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des
Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
note:
Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
based on French system
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian
Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF; New Fatherland
Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini
Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU; other small parties
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
French National Assembly:
last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1993); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally (Gaullist)
1, New Fatherland Party 1
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) party NA
Territorial Assembly:
last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18,
Polynesian Union Party 14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4
Executive branch:
French president, high commissioner of the republic, president of the
Council of Ministers, vice president of the Council of Ministers, Council of
Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal, Court of the First Instance, Court of Administrative Law

*French Polynesia, Government

Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the
Republic Michel JAU (since NA 1992)
Head of Government:
President of the Council of Ministers Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991);
Vice President of the Council of Ministers Joel BUILLARD (since 12 September
1991)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
as an overseas territory of France, French Polynesian interests are
represented in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used

*French Polynesia, Economy

Overview:
Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French