Politics of Réunion

Flag of France

Réunion, is an overseas département of France.

The island's conventional name is the Department of Réunion, or Réunion. It is also locally referred to as Île de la Réunion. The French flag is used on the island. The island's capital is Saint-Denis, and the island is divided into four arrondissements, 24 communes and 47 cantons.

Réunion is governed by French law, and its constitution is the French constitution of 28 September 1958. Suffrage is granted universally to all those over the age of 18.

The national holiday of the island is 14 July, Bastille Day, commemorating the Fête de la Fédération in 1790. The island's data code is "RE".

Executive Branch

The chief of state is the French President, François Hollande, who is represented by Prefect Jean-Luc Marx. The president of the General Council, who acts as head of the government, is Nassimah Dindar.

Elections held in Réunion include the French presidential vote. A prefect is appointed by the president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior. The presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by members of those councils.

Legislative Branch

The unicameral General Council has 47 seats. The unicameral Regional Council has 45 seats. Members of both are elected by direct election for six-year terms.

Composition

Party		seats
•	Union for a Popular Movement	15
	Socialist Party	10
•	Miscellaneous Right	10
	Communist Party of Réunion	8
	Miscellaneous Left	3
•	MoDem	3

Deputies

Réunion elects seven representatives to the National Assembly.

Constituency		Member	Party
	1st	Ericka Bareigts	PS
	2nd	Huguette Bello	PCR
	3rd	Jean-Jacques Vlody	PS
	4th	Patrick Lebreton	PS
	5th	Jean-Claude Fruteau	PS
	6th	Monique Orphé	PS
	7th	Thierry Robert	MoDem

Senators

Réunion elects four Senators to the French Senate for six-year terms. The current Senators are Michel Fontaine (LR), Paul Vergès (PCR), Didier Robert (LR) and Michel Vergoz (PS).

European Parliament

Réunion participates in French elections to the European Parliament as a part of the Indian Ocean section of the Overseas constituency, which also includes Mayotte. Younous Omarjee, from Réunion, is one of the three MEPs representing this constituency.

Judicial branch

Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

International organization participation

Indian Ocean Commission, World Federation of Trade Unions

See also

• List of Presidents of the Regional Council of Réunion