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Government and Politics of French Polynesia
Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of French Polynesia.
Government Structure
Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.
- Government Type
- NA
- Administrative Divisions
- none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
- Legal System
- based on French system
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- See France
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON of France (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Eric SPITZ (since July 2021) head of government: President of the Government of French Polynesia Moetai BROTHERSON (since 12 May 2023); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since May 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers; the president of French Polynesia submits a list of members drawn from the Territorial Assembly for approval by the assembly to serve as ministers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Government of French Polynesia and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
- Legislative Branch
- Unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblée de la Polynésie française (57 seats; members are elected by popular vote using a proportional representation system to serve five-year terms). Elections: Last held on 22 April and 6 May 2018 (next scheduled to be held in 2023). Note: French Polynesia held elections in April–May 2023, with results confirming a shift in the political landscape under the leadership of Moetai Brotherson and the Tavini Huiraatira (pro-independence) party, which won a majority of seats. Election results: In the April–May 2023 elections, Tavini Huiraatira won a decisive majority, securing approximately 38 seats. The Tapura Huiraatira party, which had previously held a majority under Edouard Fritch, was reduced to the opposition. This outcome marked a significant political transition, with Moetai Brotherson becoming President of French Polynesia. Note: French Polynesia elects representatives to the French Parliament in Paris. The territory sends two senators to the French Senate and three deputies to the French National Assembly. The most recent elections to the National Assembly were held in June 2022. French Polynesia also holds the status of an overseas collectivity of France, granting it a degree of internal autonomy while remaining subject to French constitutional law.
- 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
- Political Parties
- Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU]; Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [Philippe SHYLE]; This Country is Yours (No Oe E Te Nunaa) [Nicle BOUTEAU]; Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
- Head of State
- President Emmanuel MACRON of France, represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Eric SPITZ (since July 2021)
- Head of Government
- President of the Government of French Polynesia Moetai BROTHERSON
- Cabinet
- Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
- Elections
- Last held on 22 April and 6 May 2018 (next scheduled to be held in 2023). Note: French Polynesia held elections in April–May 2023, with results confirming a shift in the political landscape under the leadership of Moetai Brotherson and the Tavini Huiraatira (pro-independence) party, which won a majority of seats.
- Election Results
- In the April–May 2023 elections, Tavini Huiraatira won a decisive majority, securing approximately 38 seats. The Tapura Huiraatira party, which had previously held a majority under Edouard Fritch, was reduced to the opposition. This outcome marked a significant political transition, with Moetai Brotherson becoming President of French Polynesia. Note: French Polynesia elects representatives to the French Parliament in Paris. The territory sends two senators to the French Senate and three deputies to the French National Assembly. The most recent elections to the National Assembly were held in June 2022. French Polynesia also holds the status of an overseas collectivity of France, granting it a degree of internal autonomy while remaining subject to French constitutional law.
- Constitution
- 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of France)
- National Holiday
- Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
- International Organization Participation
- FZ, ICFTU, WMO
- Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
- none (overseas territory of France)
- U.S. Diplomatic Representation
- none (overseas territory of France)
Capital City
Seat of government and political history.
- Capital City
- Papeete (located on Tahiti)
- Location
- 17 32 S, 149 34 W
- Time Difference
- UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- History
- The name means "water basket" and refers to the fact that the islanders originally used calabashes enclosed in baskets to fetch water at a spring in the area
Military
Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.
- Military Branches
- No regular military forces
National Symbols
Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.
National Flag
- Flag Symbolism
- two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
- Flag History
- To distinguish the flag of French Polynesia from that of Tahiti, the emblem was placed inthe center. Its main feature is a piragua, which is a status symbol as weel as an indispensable boat used for fishing and trasportation. The figures iin the piragua stand for the five parts of French Polynesia: the Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Austral Islands and the Marquesas Islands. The yellow rays symbolize the sun and light, and the blue and white waves represent the riches of the Pacific on which the people have always relied for their livelihood.
- Date of Adoption
- 23 November 1984
National Anthem
- Anthem History
- These islands are territories of France
Other National Symbols
National Flower
The Tiare (Gardenia taitensis)