Data code: GP

Dependency status: overseas department of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Basse-Terre

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Marcellin LUBETH
(since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Lucette
MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
election results: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held
by NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be
held NA 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - diverse left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, diverse
right parties 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council - percent of vote by
party - RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 24.49%, PCG 5.29%,
diverse right parties 5.73%; seats by party - RPR 25, PS/PPDG/diverse
left parties 12, PCG 2, diverse right parties 2
note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, FGPS 1;
Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FGPS 2, RPR 1,
PPDG 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction
over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Political parties and leaders: Christian Movement for the Liber