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French Polynesia

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Polynésie française
French Polynesia
Anthem: La Marseillaise
Location of French Polynesia
Capital
and largest city
Tai o Hae
Official languagesFrench
GovernmentDependent territory
Nicolas Sarkozy

Oscar Temaru
• High Commissioner of the Republic
Anne Boquet
Overseas dependency
14 July (1789)
• Water (%)
12
Population
• Jan. 2007 estimate
259,800[1] (176th)
• Nov. 2002 census
245,516[2]
GDP (PPP)2003 estimate
• Total
$4.58 billion (not ranked)
• Per capita
$17,5001 (not ranked)
HDI (n/a)n/a
Error: Invalid HDI value (n/a)
CurrencyCFP franc (XPF)
Time zoneUTC-10
Calling code689
ISO 3166 codePF
Internet TLD.pf
  1. 2003 estimate.
The French frigate Floréal, stationed in Bora Bora lagoon.

French Polynesia (French: Polynésie française) is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being the Marquesas Island group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory (Tai o Hae). Although not an integral part of its territory, Clipperton Island was administered from French Polynesia until 2007.

Politics

Main article: 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 pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of French Polynesia.

On September 14, 2007, the pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru, 63, was elected president of French Polynesia for the 3rd time in 3 years (with 27 of 44 votes cast inassembly).[3] He replaced former President Gaston Tong Sang, opposed to independence, who lost a no-confidence vote in the 31 August parliament after the longtime former president of French Polynesia, Gaston Flosse, hitherto opposed to independence, sided with his long ennemy Oscar Temaru to topple the government of Gaston Tong Sang. Oscar Temaru, however, has no stable majority in the Assembly of French Polynesia, and new elections are scheduled before the end of 2007 to solve the current political crisis.

Despite a local assembly and government, French Polynesia is not in a free association with France, like the Cook Islands with New Zealand or Puerto Rico with the United States. As a French overseas collectivity, the local government has no competence in justice, education, security and defense, directly provided and administered by the French State, the Gendarmerie and the French Military. The highest representant of the State in the territory is the High Commissioner of the Republic (French: Haut commissaire de la République).

French Polynesia also sends two deputies to the French National Assembly, one representing the Leeward Islands administrative subdivision, the Austral Islands administrative subdivision, the Tuamotu-Gambier administrative division, and the Marquesas Islands administrative division. French Polynesia also sends one senator to the French Senate.

French Polynesians vote in the French presidential elections and at the 2007 French presidential election, in which the pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru openly called to vote for the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal while the parties opposed to independence generally supported the center-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, the turnout in French Polynesia was 69.12% in the first round of the election and 74.67% in the second round. French Polynesians voters placed Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of Ségolène Royal in both rounds of the election (2nd round: Nicolas Sarkozy 51.9%; Ségolène Royal 48.1%).[4]

Administration

Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM). In 2003 it became an overseas collectivity (French: collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Its statutory law of 27 February 2004 gives it the particular designation of overseas province (French: province d'outre-mer, or POM), but without legal modification of its status.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of French Polynesia

French Polynesia has five administrative subdivisions (French: subdivisions administratives):

Geography

Main article: Geography of French Polynesia

The islands of French Polynesia have a total land area of 4,167 square kilometres (1,622 sq. mi) scattered over 2,500,000 square kilometres (965,255 sq. mi) of ocean.

It is made up of several groups of islands, the largest and most populated of which is Tahiti.

The island groups are:

Aside from Tahiti, some other important atolls, islands, and island groups in French Polynesia are: Ahe, Hiva `Oa, Huahine, Maiao, Maupiti, Mehetia, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Raiatea, Tahaa, Tetiaroa, Tubuai, and Tupai.

Economy

Main article: Economy of French Polynesia

French Polynesia has a moderately developed economy, which is dependent on imported goods, tourism, and the financial assistance of mainland France. Tourist facilities are well developed and are available on the major islands. Also, as the noni fruit from these islands is discovered for its medicinal uses, people have been able to find jobs related to this agricultural industry.

The legal tender of French Polynesia is the CFP Franc.

Agriculture: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits.

Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of French Polynesia

Total population at the November 2002 census was 245,516 inhabitants.[2] 87.2% of people were born in French Polynesia, 9.5% were born in metropolitan France, 1.4% were born in overseas France outside of French Polynesia, and 1.9% were born in foreign countries.[5] According to unofficial data, 83% of people are Polynesian, 12% white, and 5% East Asian (mainly Chinese and Vietnamese).[citation needed][6]

Languages

French is the official language of French Polynesia. An organic law of April 12, 1996 states that "French is the official language" At the 2002 census, among the population whose age was 14 and older, 65.0% of people reported that the language they speak the most at home is French, 33.4% reported that the language they speak the most at home is any of the Polynesian languages, 1.2% reported an East Asian language, and 0.4% another language.[7] At the same census, 92.9% of people whose age was 14 or older reported that they could speak, read and write French, whereas only 4.8% reported that they had no knowledge of French.[8]

Religion

Christianity is the main religion of the islands, with a majority (54%) belonging to various Protestant churches and a large minority (30%) being Roman Catholic.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in French Polynesia

While most major roads are paved and well-maintained, many secondary roads are not. Traffic is brisk and all types of vehicles and pedestrians jockey for space on narrow streets. Crosswalks are marked and the law requires that motor vehicles stop for pedestrians; however, this is not always done. Tourists should exercise caution when driving, particularly at night.

There are 51 airports in French Polynesia, 39 are paved[1]

Famous people of French Polynesia

Miscellaneous topics

French Polynesia has one of the lowest crime rates within France and its territories. However, petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs.

Medical treatment is generally good on the major islands, but is limited in areas that are more remote or less/sparsely populated.

As an overseas territory of France, defence and law-enforcement are provided by the French Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) and Gendarmerie.

See also

References

  1. ^ Template:Fr icon Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Démographie : Sommaire". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  2. ^ a b Template:Fr icon Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Recensement Général de la Population de 2002 : Population légale". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  3. ^ BBC NEWS, French Polynesia gets new leader
  4. ^ Template:Fr icon Minister of the Interior, Government of France. "POLYNESIE FRANCAISE (987) (résultats officiels)". Retrieved 2007-09-14. {{cite web}}: Check |first= value (help)
  5. ^ Template:Fr icon Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "POP4a - Population totale par lieu de naissance selon le sexe et l'âge quinquennal" (XLS). Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  6. ^ Template:Fr icon Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Tableau II – Population des communes et communes associées de Polynésie française" (XLS). Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  7. ^ Template:Fr icon Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "LAN1a - Population de 14 ans et plus par langue la plus utilisée en famille selon le sexe et l'âge quinquennal" (XLS). Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  8. ^ Template:Fr icon Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "LAN3a : Population de 14 ans et plus par connaissance des langues selon le sexe et l'âge quinquennal" (XLS). Retrieved 2007-06-23.

Tourism

Government

Religion

History

Template:Austronesian-speaking

17°32′S 149°34′W / 17.533°S 149.567°W / -17.533; -149.567

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