Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President of France Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017) 

  • Represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Dominique SORAIN (since 10 July 2019) 

• Head of Government: President of French Polynesia Moetai BROTHERSON (since 12 May 2023)

• Assembly: unicameral Assembly (Assemblée de la Polynésie française) with 57 seats 

  • French Polynesia is also represented in the French Senate (Sénat) and National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale). 

Description of electoral system:

• The President of France is directly elected by absolute majority vote in up to two rounds. The president may serve up to two 5-year terms. 

• The High Commissioner is appointed by the President of France based on the advice of the Ministry of the Interior. 

• The President of French Polynesia is indirectly elected by the Assembly from among its members. The President may serve up to two 5-year terms. 

• In the Assembly, 38 members are directly elected via absolute majority, closed-list vote in multi-seat constituencies in up to two rounds. Only lists receiving at least 12.5% of the total vote can advance to the second round, but parties may combine their votes and lists to meet this requirement. The remaining 19 seats are allocated to the party that receives the most votes. All members serve 5-year terms. 

• Within the French legislature, French Polynesia directly elects three deputies of the National Assembly via absolute majority vote in up to two rounds. French Polynesia indirectly elects two members of the Senate via an electoral college, and one senate seat is contested every three years. Deputies serve 5-year terms, and senators serve 6-year terms.