Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Christophe
PAYET (since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council
Margarite SUDRE (since 25 June 1993)
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 the Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and
unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council—last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Council—last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
NA 1999)
election results: General Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats
by party—PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional
Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UPF 17, Free-Dom
Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA);
results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1, PCR 2;
Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly;
elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA2002);
results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PCR 3, PS 1, and
RPR-UDF 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
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