ral Council - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - various right-wing candidates 27,
PCR 10, PS 10, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council - percent
of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 7, UDF 8, PS 6, RPR 4,
various right-wing candidates 15, various left-wing candidates 5 note:
Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate; elections
last held NA 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); results - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Reunion also elects five deputies
to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002
(next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - NA

Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Reunion or PCR
[Paul VERGES]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE];
Socialist Party or PS [Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy
or UDF [Gilbert GERARD]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: FZ, InOC, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy Reunion

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 amounts to more than 40% of the labor force. The gap
in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts
for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities
are substantially better off than other segments of the population,
often approaching European standards, whereas minority groups suffer the
poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African
continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates
the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%