Government of Réunion
Long Conventional Name
Department of Reunion
Short Conventional Name
Reunion
Long Local Name
none
Short Local Name
Ile de la Reunion
Government Type
Not applicable
Capital City
Saint-Denis
Administrative Divisions
None (overseas department of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons.
Independence Day
Monday, 8th January 2007
Constitutional History
4 October 1958 (French Constitution).
Legal System
French Law
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Pierre-Henry MACCIONI (since 28 August 2006).
Head of Government
President of the General Council Nassimah DINDAR (since NA March 2004) and President of the Regional Council Paul VERGES (since NA March 1993).
Cabinet
N/A
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 the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils.
Legislative Branch
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 the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils.
Judical Branch
Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Flag Description
Unofficial, local flag designed to emphasize solidarity among the people of Reunion; the field is divided vertically with three narrow stripes of blue, white, and red along the hoist edge representing the French national flag; the remainder of the field is divided diagonally into four triangles colored (clockwise from the hoist side) blue, golden yellow, red, and green; in the center, the apexes of the triangles are surmounted by a white disk; the only official flag is the national flag of France.
