<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Reunion<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Department of Reunion
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Reunion
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> none
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> Ile de la Reunion
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> RE
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> overseas department of France
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Saint-Denis
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> none (overseas department of France)
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> none (overseas department of France)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> French law
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since NA)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
<item><hi format=bold>General Council:</hi> elections last held 22 March 1991 (next to be held March 1997); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(44 total) seats by party NA
<item><hi format=bold>Regional Council:</hi> elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA March 1998); results—UPF 25.6%, PCR 17.9%, PS 10.5%, Independent 33.4%, other 12.6%; seats—(45 total) Sudre 17, UPF 14, PCR 9, PS 5
<item><hi format=bold>French Senate:</hi> elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(3 total) RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1
<item><hi format=bold>French National Assembly:</hi> elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(5 total) PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1; note—5 members to the French National Assembly who are voting members
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU;; France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON; Reunion Communist Party (PCR); Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU; Social Democrats (CDS); other small parties
<item><hi format=bold>Member of:</hi> FZ, WFTU
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> none (overseas department of France)
<item><hi format=bold>US diplomatic representation:</hi> none (overseas department of France)
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> the flag of France is used