GOVERNMENT
Country
name:
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but
there are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave,
Wallis
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Administrator Xavier DE FURST (since
18 January 2005)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione
KANIMOA (since NA January 2001)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and
three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice
of the Territorial Assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high administrator appointed by the French president on
the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents
of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are
elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate
and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate
- elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA
September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
- RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held
16 June 2002 (next to be held by NA 2007); results - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (UMP) 1
Judicial branch:
none; justice generally administered under French law by the high
administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary
law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders:
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) [leader NA]; Mouvement des Radicaux
de Gauche or MRG [leader NA]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Clovis
LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire
Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise
or UDF [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
a large white modified Maltese cross - shifted a little off center
toward the fly and slightly downward - on a red background; the
flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper
hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions
