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 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 2002); 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—various left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, various right
parties 5, PCC 3, UDF 1; Regional Council—percent of vote by
party—RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/DVG 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, DVD 5.73%; seats by
party—RPR 25, PS/PPDG/DVG 12, PCG 2, DVD 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: Rally for the Republic or RPR
REIETTE]; Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or
IBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG;
General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; Christian
Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)