Politics of French Polynesia

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French Polynesia

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of French Polynesia

President: Oscar Temaru Assembly Political parties Elections 2004 Administrative divisions

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Politics of French Polynesia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity, whereby the President of French Polynesia is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of French Polynesia. Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM). In 2003 it became an overseas collectivity (French: collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Its statutory law of 27 February 2004 gives it the particular designation of "overseas country" to underline the large autonomy of the territory.

Contents 1 Executive branch 2 Legislative branch 3 Political parties and elections 4 Judicial branch 5 Administrative divisions 6 International organization participation 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
High Commissioner	Anne Boquet		10 September 2005)
President of French Polynesia	Oscar (Manutahi) Temaru	Tavini Huiraatira	March 3, 2005
President of the Assembly	Antony Géros		May 9, 2004

The President of the French Republic is represented by the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (Haut-Commissaire de la République en Polynésie française). The government is headed by the President of French Polynesia. He submits as Council of Ministers a list of members of the Territorial Assembly, the Assembly of French Polynesia (Assemblée de la Polynésie française), for approval by them to serve as ministers.

[edit] Legislative branch

French Polynesia elects the Assembly of French Polynesia (Assemblée de la Polynésie française), the unicameral legislature on the territorial level. The Assembly of French Polynesia has 57 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies.

[edit] Political parties and elections

The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in French Polynesia. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in French Polynesia.

Main article: French Polynesian legislative election, 2004

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 23 May 2004 and 13 February 2005 Assembly of French Polynesia election results

Alliances and parties	Votes	%	Seats
Tahoera'a Huiraatira (Popular Rally)		45.2	27
Union for the Democracy (Union pour la Démocratie) Tavini Huiraatira (People's Servant) Aia Api (New Land) Tapura Amui No Te Faatereraa Manahune - Tuhaa Pae Tapura Amui No Raromatai		37.4	27
Alliance for a New Democracy (Alliance pour une Démocratie Nouvelle) Fetia Api (Nouvelle Etoile/New Star) No Oe E Te Nunaa (This Country is Yours)			3
Total (turnout 78.3 %)			57
Source: Rulers. By-elections were held 13 february 2005 in Tahiti and Moorea after the election was invalidated in these districts (37 of the total 57 seats).

The members of the Assembly of French Polynesia are elected in 6 different electoral districts or electoral circumscriptions (French: circonscriptions électorales) which slightly differ from the administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives) on the Tuamotus and the Gambier Islands. The 6 electoral circumscriptions (circonscriptions électorales) are:

• electoral circumscription of the Windward Islands (circonscription des Îles du Vent) (37 members)
• electoral circumscription of the Leeward Islands (circonscription des Îles Sous-le-Vent) (8 members)
• electoral circumscription of the Austral Islands (circonscription des Îles Australes) (3 members)
• electoral circumscription of the Gambier Islands and the Islands Tuamotu-East (circonscription des Îles Gambier et Tuamotu Est) (3 members)
• electoral circumscription of the Islands Tuamotu-West (circonscription des Îles Tuamotu Ouest) (3 members)
• electoral circumscription of the Marquesas Islands (circonscription des Îles Marquises) (3 members)

[edit] Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif.

[edit] Administrative divisions

French Polynesia has 5 administrative subdivisions (French: subdivisions administratives):

• Windward Islands (French: Îles du Vent or officially subdivision administrative des Îles du Vent) (the two subdivisions administratives Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands)
• Leeward Islands (French: Îles Sous-le-Vent or officially subdivision administrative des Îles Sous-le-Vent) (the two subdivisions administratives Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands)
• Marquesas Islands (French: (Îles) Marquises or officially subdivision administrative des (Îles) Marquises)
• Austral Islands (French: (Îles) Australes or officially subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes) (including the Bass Islands)
• Tuamotu-Gambier (French: (Îles) Tuamotu-Gambier or officially subdivision administrative des (Îles) Tuamotu-Gambier) (the Tuamotus and the Gambier Islands)

note: Clipperton Island (French: Île de Clipperton), just off the coast of Mexico, is administered by France from French Polynesia.

[edit] International organization participation

ESCAP (associate), FZ, ITUC, SPC, WMO

[edit] See also

• French Polynesia
• Elections in French Polynesia
• French Polynesian legislative election, 2004
• Assembly of French Polynesia

[edit] External links

• Francepolitique
• CIA World Factbook — French Polynesia
• Listing of politicians of French Polynesia