Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995) represented by Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ (since NA) who was
appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the General Council Christophe
PAYET (since NA)
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral
Regional Council
General Council: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) PCR
12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7
Regional Council: elections last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) UPF
17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be
held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total)
RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
DEFAUD; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist
Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU; France-Reunion Future (FRA),
Andre THIEN AH KOON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU;
Social Democrats (CDS), leader NA; Union for France (UPF - includes
RPR and UDF); Free-Dom Movement, Marguerite SUDRE
International organization participation: FZ, IOC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of
France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)