Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997)
head of government: President of the General Council Stephan PHINERA
(since NA March 1994); President of the Regional Council Antoine
KARAM (since NA 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; presidents of the General and Regional
Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council—last held 20-27 March 1994 (next to be
held NA 2000); 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—PSG 8, FDG 4, RPR 1, other left 2, other right 2, other 2;
Regional Council—percent of vote by party—PS 28.28%, various left
parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari 6%; seats by
party—PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari 2
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998
(next to be held NA September 2007); results—percent of vote by
party—NA; seats by party—NA; 2 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—RPR 1, PSG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local
court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique,
Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party or PSG
subset of PSG); Nationalist Popular Party of Guyana (Parti
LECANTE]; Democratic and European Rally of the Senate or RDSE
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)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; sugar cane is the major cash crop. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.