Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Pierre-Henry MACCIONI (since 28 August
2006)
head of government: President of the General Council Nassimah DINDAR
(since NA March 2004) and President of the Regional Council Paul
VERGES (since NA March 1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-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 (49 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral
Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popular
vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next to
be held NA); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (next to be
held in 2010)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10,
UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council (second
round) - percent of vote by party - PCR 44.9%, UMP 32.8%, PS-Greens
22.3%; seats by party - PCR 27, UMP 11, PS-Greens 7
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held in 2001 (next to be held in 2006); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRC 1, UDF 1, UMP 1;
Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly;
elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 3, PS
1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Elie HOARAU]; Rally for the
Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS
[Michel VERGOZ]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Gilbert GERARD];
Union for a Popular Movement or UMP