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

Election Results

As an overseas region and department of France, Guadeloupe participates in French national elections rather than holding fully independent national votes. Residents of Guadeloupe elect representatives to the French National Assembly and the Senate, and they vote in French presidential elections on the same schedule as metropolitan France. In the 2022 French presidential election, the second round saw Emmanuel Macron defeat Marine Le Pen nationally, and Guadeloupe's results broadly reflected support for Macron, though the territory has historically shown lower voter turnout than mainland France. Abstention rates in Guadeloupe frequently exceed 60 to 70 percent in both legislative and presidential contests, reflecting persistent civic disengagement tied to socioeconomic frustrations and tensions between the local population and the French central government. For the French legislative elections held in June 2022, Guadeloupe sends four deputies to the National Assembly. Left-leaning and locally rooted parties tend to perform strongly in the territory. The Nupes coalition, a left-wing alliance that included La France Insoumise, the Socialist Party, and the Greens, secured significant support in Guadeloupe during these elections. Olivier Serva, representing a regional political movement aligned with local autonomy interests, has been among the notable figures in Guadeloupe's legislative representation in recent years. At the regional level, Guadeloupe holds elections for its own Regional Council and Departmental Council. In the 2021 regional elections, Ary Chalus was re-elected as President of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe. His coalition, which campaigned on economic development and strengthening local governance, secured a majority of seats. The elections were marked by fragmented opposition and, again, notably low voter participation, with turnout in the first round falling below 30 percent — a pattern consistent with broader trends across France's overseas territories. These election outcomes reflect Guadeloupe's dual identity: legally and constitutionally French, yet shaped by a distinct Caribbean political culture that often prioritizes local autonomy, social equality, and economic development concerns specific to the island's history and geography.

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.