Government and Politics of Guadeloupe

Government Type

NA

Administrative Divisions

none (overseas department of France)

Legal System

French legal system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON of France (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Xavier LEFORT (since 2022) head of government: President of the Departmental Council Josette BOREL-LINCERTIN (since 2015); President of the Regional Council Ary CHALUS (since April 2017) 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 Interior; the presidents of the Departmental and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils election results: NA

Legislative Branch

Guadeloupe's legislative structure was significantly reformed in 2015, when the General Council (Conseil Général) and the Regional Council (Conseil Régional) were merged into a single body, the Departmental Council (Conseil Départemental et Régional), as part of broader French territorial reforms. However, Guadeloupe ultimately retained separate departmental and regional councils following local political decisions, and elections continue to be held for both bodies. The Regional Council (Conseil Régional) has 41 seats, with members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms. The most recent regional elections were held in June 2021. In those elections, the Guadeloupean list led by Ary Chalus of the Guadeloupe Rassemblement party secured a majority. The Departmental Council (Conseil Départemental) has 42 seats, also filled through popular vote for six-year terms, with the most recent departmental elections held in June 2021. As an overseas department and region of France, Guadeloupe also sends representatives to the French Parliament. Guadeloupe elects four deputies to the French National Assembly, with the most recent elections held in June 2022. Guadeloupe is also represented by three senators in the French Senate, with the most recent senatorial elections held in September 2023.

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Political Parties

Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Mona CADOCE]; FGPS [Dominique LARIFLA]; Left Radical Party or PRG [Flavien FERRANT]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Socialist Party or PS [Jules OTTO]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Claudine LACAVE]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR) [Gabrielle LOUIS-CARABIN]

Head of State

President Emmanuel MACRON of France, represented by Prefect Xavier LEFORT

Head of Government

President of the Departmental Council Josette BOREL-LINCERTIN

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Independence

none (overseas department of France)

National Holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

International Organization Participation

WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

none (overseas department of France)

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

none (overseas department of France)

Capital City

Basse-Terre

U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown Wildey Business park Wildey St. Michael, Barbados Telephone: (246) 227-4399 Emergency after-hours telephone: (246) 227-4000 Facsimile: (246) 431-0179 Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbadian and U.S. holidays.