Politics of French Polynesia

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 multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of French Polynesia.

French Polynesia
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government 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.

Executive branch
Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
High Commissioner Lionel Beffre Non-Partisan 13 September 2013
President of French Polynesia Édouard Fritch Tahoera'a Huiraatira 12 September 2014
President of the Assembly Marcel Tuihani Tahoera'a Huiraatira 16 September 2014

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. It has been hinted new elected president on September 14 will be an interim president before a new round of fresh parliamentary elections expected to take place by the end of the year, followed by a new presidential election.

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. Since the territorial elections of March 6, 2001, the parity bill now binds that the number of women matches the number of men at the Assembly.

Political parties and elections
For other political parties, see List of political parties in French Polynesia. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in French Polynesia.
Main article: 2013 French Polynesian legislative election
Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes % Seats +/–
Tahoera'a Huiraatira51,31640.1662,34045.1138+28
Union for Democracy30,78124.0940,44129.2611–8
A Tia Porinetia25,45319.9235,42125.638New
All Polynesians7,2935.71
Ia Tura to'u Femus4,5533.56
Te Ara Ti'a3,9563.10
Te Hiti Tau Api3,0792.41
Rally for the Respect of the Polynesian Population8850.69
Amuitahiraa Huiraatira4520.35
Invalid/blank votes1,621–1,412–––
Total129,389100139,614100570
Registered voters/turnout195,83566.07191,79972.79––
Source: Tahiti News, Tahiti News

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)

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.

Administrative divisions

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

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

International organization participation

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

See also

References

    Media related to Politics of French Polynesia at Wikimedia Commons

    • francepolitique.free.fr
    • CIA World Factbook — French Polynesia
    • Ben Cahoon (2000). "French Polynesia". WorldStatesman.org. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
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