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.
Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory. In 2003 it became an overseas collectivity. 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
Legislative branch
French Polynesia elects the Assembly of French Polynesia, 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
The members of the Assembly of French Polynesia are elected in 6 different electoral districts or electoral circumscriptions which slightly differ from the administrative subdivisions on the Tuamotus and the Gambier Islands. The 6 electoral circumscriptions are:- electoral circumscription of the Windward Islands
- electoral circumscription of the Leeward Islands
- electoral circumscription of the Austral Islands
- electoral circumscription of the Gambier Islands and the Islands Tuamotu-East
- electoral circumscription of the Islands Tuamotu-West
- electoral circumscription of the Marquesas Islands
Judicial branch
Administrative divisions
French Polynesia has five administrative subdivisions :note: Clipperton Island, just off the coast of Mexico, was administered by France from French Polynesia.