Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Territoire de la Polynésie Française
local short form: Polynésie Française
Data code: FP
Dependency status:
Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM). In 2003 and beginning of 2004 it was briefly an overseas collectivity (French: collectivité d'outre-mer , or COM). The new status of overseas "country" gives a large autonomy to the territory, while remaining part of the French Republic.
See also: Administrative divisions of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Papeete
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named:
note: Clipperton Island, just off the coast of Mexico, is administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, July 14, 1789.
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: based on French system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jacques Chirac of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994)
head of government:
President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Oscar Temaru (born 1944) since 15 June 2004; President of the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4
note:
one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:
- Centrist Union or UC [leader NA]
- Entente Polynesian [Arthur CHUNG]
- Haere i Mua [Alexandre LEONTIEFF]
- Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]
- Independent Party (Ia Mana Te Nunaa) [Jacques DROLLET]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]
- People's Rally for the Republic (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]
- Polynesian Union Party (includes Te Tiarama and Pupu Here Ai'a Party) [Jean JUVENTIN]
- Pupu Taina [Michel LAW]
- Te Aratia Ote Nunaa (Tinomana Ebb)
- Te e'a No Maohi Nui [Jean-Marius RAAPOTO]
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Flag description:
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
See also
